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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89779	The temple measured: or, A brief survey of the temple mystical, which is the instituted church of Christ. Wherein are solidly and modestly discussed, most of the material questions touching the constitution and government of the visible church militant here on earth. Together with the solution of all sorts of objections which are usually framed against the model and platform of ecclesiastical polity, which is here asserted and maintained. In particular here are debated, the points of so much controversie, touching the unity of the church, the members of the church, the form of the church, and church covenant, the power of the church, the officers of the church, and their power in church-government, the power of magistrates about the church, and some church acts, as admission of members, and other things set down in the table before the book. / By James Noyes teacher of the church at Newbery in New England.	Noyes, James, 1608-1656.	1646 (1646)	Wing N1460; Thomason E359_12; ESTC R201171	85,622	104

over when the marriage of the lambe is come Jus voluntarium est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 repertum temporis usus when every one shall sit under his Vine and under his Fig tree Zech. 3.10 In all these respects the Sabbath was Ceremonial and that in the way of anticipation at the first Institution and ceaseth at the coming of Christ The preface to the Commandements concerneth all typically because we have all a Feast of a Passover and are delivered out of a mystical Egypt So the seventh day from the Creation concerneth all in way of type We all enjoy a Sabbath of grace upon Christs finishing the work of the new Creation in point of satisfaction As the Sabbath was a remembrance of Gods resting from his works so it belonged to the second Commandment not to the fourth Onely Gods resting is one positive sanction of the seventh day and urged in the Commandement for the furthering of its observation The seventh day from Christs resurrection Pro. 5. is to be observed in the place of the seventh day from the Creation 1. It was presignified in the circumcision of the eighth day to denote the circumcision of the heart upon this day Col 2.11 Joshuah circumcised all Israel when they came into the holy Land and we must all be circumcised that do spiritually savingly enter into the Land of grace under the Gospel But the Gospel is the special season for circumcising and for the espousing of the Church to Christ the the second Adam 2. Christ chose this day to meet his Disciples and it is in specialty observed and recorded Junitu supposeth that Christ met his Disciples every eighth day till his ascension Iohn was ravished on the Lords day The spirit was powred out on the Lords day 3. From the practice of the Primitive Church and of the Apostles Acts ●0 1 Cor. 16. Apostolorum accurata observatio vice praecepti esse debet as Calvin speaks of Imposition Inst 1.4 c. 3 S. 16. The Apostles practice in matters of common concernment consulted continued is authentical 1 Cor. 11. Tit. 1. They would not practise besides the Commandments of Christ nor suffer others Col. 2. 4. It is called the Lords day as the Supper is called the Lords Supper Rev. 1. The denomination seems to refer to some Institution The Apostle approves of the special observation of the first day of the week by adding another solemnity thereunto 1 Cor. 16. It had been superstition to have observed a set day solemnly constantly and universally without some Divine Institution in place of or together with the former Sabbath if former arguments be sound It may be lawful to observe some set 〈◊〉 in way of method in particular places as natural mediums of furthering Worship yee how can a day be Instituted with reference to the resurrection of Christ as rememorative or prenuntiative without will-Worship or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is lawful to serve God in set times but it is unlawful to serve God with set times to make the time it self a part of Instituted Worship when it is not Instituted by God Those indeed which in Primitive times denied the Lords Supper may wel question the Lords day Yet the Lords day was so universally observed in primitive dayes that a Christian being asked this question servasti diem dominicum It was wont to be answered Christianus sum non possum intermittere 5. If the seventh day from the Creation was observed by Gods Law how could the Apostles change the day without some positive warrant from God Some Christians did observe both the Jewish and the Christian Sabbath but the Apostles speak only for the Lords day 6. The Sabbath mentioned in Esa 58. Ezek. 46. Math. 24. doth typically hold forth a Christian or a perpetual Sabbath Those places do in way of type most evidently reach to the Christian Church and that in Ezek. is a prophetical description of the Christian Church Some dayes must answer to those and what in like proportion can be thought of Would our Saviour speak to his Disciples of a Sabbath if they would not or should not be so conscientious of a Sabbath as to pray with reference to it Mat. 24. 7. A seventh day is positively Moral and we are now to have no other seventh day then this Quomodò Maria mater domini principatum tenet inter omnet mulieres ita inter caeterel dies haec omnium mater est So Austine concerning the Lords day 8. We have need of a set day and of a set day by Gods own appointment sith it must be permanent and universal and we are now to have no other set day then this 9. The day of the Resurrection of Christ is the day of the declaration of the work of Redemption wherein Christ finished the work of the new Creation and therefore deserveth the alteration of the day from the first Creation and Christ is Lord of the Sabbath Mark 2. The work of Redemption was more worthy our remembrance then that of Creation Calvin acknowledgeth that such works as are avocamenta à sacris studiis meditationibus are not alowable on the Lords day It is strange that Brentius should affirm that we are no more obliged to keep one day in seven then one in fourteen The equity of the seventh day at least is apparent in the Apostles observation of the first day of the week yet the institution or injunction of that day may not be natural or expresly contained in the fourth Commandment Concerning the beginning and ending of the Sabbath THe evening before the Sabbath is a preparative to Pro. 2. and the evening after is an application of the Sabbath but the beginning of holy time is the morning light 1. The first day in Genesis 1. began with morning light 1. God called the light day and the darkness night therefore light and darkness together is not the day but the light as distinguished from the night or darkness Day in the first words of the Text is taken for the time of light therefore it is so taken one would think in the next words immediatly following When it is said that morning and evening or evening and morning were the first day it seems not congruous to say that the day and the night were the first day 2. Gen 24.63 Exo. 19.18 Lev. 11.24 Evening is generally taken for the later part of the day by Moses himself The Sacrifices of the evening were Sacrifices of the same day The evening which was to be observed in the day of expiation before the tenth day is referred to the ninth day Lev. 23.32 3. The Hebrew word used by Moses is not naturally appliable to the night because it signifies a mixture of light and darkness in the notation of it Verba sunt nota rerum 4. It seems thus to be understood from the fourth day the Sun is made the rule and measure of the day The space of

work as to be a bed and sleep except it be for preparation 5. It is sutable to the first Institution by Moset To morrow saith Moses is the Sabbath of rest Exo. 16.23 The Manna which signified Christ fell in the morning because the time of grace is represented by the time of light The Quailes which signified fleshly bodily and external services came in the evening the time of darknesse Thus the Jews and Papists have excessively lusted after and delighted in fleshly services until their Worship stank both before God and men The Iews ended their Sabbath in the evening but what testimony is there to prove that it was their duty to begin their Sabbath in the evening as part of holy time Many do now suppose that the Iews began their natural day or rather their Civil day if we speak like the Romans in the evening They say it was Gods Institution Lev. 23. but there is no appearance of any Institution for the beginning of ordinary time and that Institution rather argueth that ordinarily the day was not begun in the evening Some observe that it was only the beginning of their religious dayes It was anciently concluded that the Iews began their day with the Persians and Chaldeans in the morning and it is answerable to the current of Scripture Many Fathers and Schoolmen do peremptorily hold that the first day began with the light and therefore understand by evening the end of light by morning the end of darknesse and all do not conceive that day doth there take in the night Object It seems Luk. 23.54 56. that the Iews in time of our Saviour esteemed the evening preceding to be part of the Sabbath Answ I answer this was a time of Superstition and Ignorance and the Evangelist may say that the Sabbath approached with reference to the evening preparation and the morning following 2. The Iews erred in counting that day the day of preparation and yet the Evangelist calleth it the day of preparation because it was so with the Iews So he may say the Sabbath approached meaning the evening because the evening was reputed a part of the Sabbath by the Iews It is concluded that that day which the Iews called the day of preparation was indeed the first day of unleavened bread because our Saviour had observed the Passover the day before this their day of preparation Concerning the manner of observing the Sabbath BOdily feasting was alwayes a subordinate solemnity of the day Pro. 1. 1. We have examples The Iews dressed meat on this day Neh. 5.18 Our Saviour accepted of an invitation to a wedding Feast as it seems on this day Luk 14. The Priest had a double portion on this day two Lambs The Primitive Christians had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on this day 2. It is connatural to the nature of the day It is a remembrance of the wonderful works of Creation of the wonderful redemption of the world declared by the resurrection of Christ It was the day of the day of grace of which time the Prophet Sang Psa 118.24 that it was the day which the Lord had made It is the day of the circumcision of the heart of the effusion of the Spirit It is a natural sign or earnest of our Heavenly rest in glory as the whole time of grace is The Sabbath was a natural sign to the Iews of Gods sanctifying them because it was a medium thereof So this Sabbath is a natural sign of our Heavenly Sabbath because it is a medium and earnest thereof Christ the Prince of Israel meets his people on this day and makes their hearts glad Ezek. 46. Rev. 1. Iob. 38. Before Christ came the Sabbath was Ceremonially significative of the rest to come in grace and glory not only an earnest thereof The Ceremony vanisheth but the spiritual use of the day continueth It is aptly called by one aptum Simbolum laetitiae Object The Iews are bid to dresse their Manna the day before the Sabbath Exod. 16.6 Ans 1. The Iews were not forbid to dresse other meats on the Sabbath day 2. As for the Manna it did signifie Christ and the Sabbath did signifie the heavenly rest in grace and glory The dressing of the Manna must accordingly signifie our diligence to prepare our selves for the seeding on Christ in the Sabbath both of grace and glory A bodily Feast is not a co-ordinate solemnity of the Sabbath Pro. 2. as it was of other Feast days 1. It was not consecrated festivally with sacrifies as other Sabbaths were 2. All work is forbid in this Sabbath Lev. 23.3 and only servile work on other feasts This day was to be observed more spiritually then the other Feast days Feasts must never exceed modum naturae nor modum personae nor on this day modum cultus The Sabbath is rather a spiritual Feast then a bodily Feast yet a Feast because appointed for the refreshing of the body as well as of the soul and therefore not for the aff●●ting of the body All the Feasts of the Iews like rivulets have their confluence into the times of the Gospel therefore are spiritually to be enjoyed on the Lords day altogether Act. 20. This day is to be celebrated with works of Piety the publique Worship of God religious disputations Act. 17. reading of the Scriptures Col. 4. Meditations on Gods Law works of Creation and Redemption Psal 92. and with works that may declare Gods name directly and to this end the infirm man might carry his bed Joh. 5.2 Works of mercy are sutable to this days work of present necessity and immediate mercy Our Saviours healing of the sick on the Sabbath teacheth us to spare no labor in healing both the souls and bodies of men We may preserve our goods against storms fires inundations Enemies that shall assault us on the Sabbath The Lord God preserveth all his works that he hath made on the Sabbath from the beginning unto this time Lastly moderate attendence on the dressing of meats which may further our joyful service of God in spirit and in truth Eliah fasted on the Sabbath and so did our Saviour both attended upon a greater service All dead works are our own works all sin is servile work these are absolutely forbid on the Sabbath Spiritualiter observat Sabbathum Christianus Augustine Pro. 3. abstinens so ab opere servili id est à peccato We are to make preparation for the due celebration of the Lords day 1. Get sutable hearts such as may delight in spiritual things 2. 2. Chron. 30.19 2 Chron. 30.18 Exod. 23.15 Lev. 23.3 Keep our selves clean 3. Prepare an offering we must not appear empty 4. Rid our hearts and hands of Earthly things The Lords work is to be done on the Lords day We are to prepare our selves to feast on the Passover by dressing of the Lamb for the Feast of first fruits by considering the goodnesse of God from the time of our conversion to Thanksgiving for the feast of Tabernacles by perfecting mortification as on the day of expiation The Feast of the Passover was to signifie the Feast of conversion of Infant Christians the Feast of first fruits the Feast of confirmation of growing Christians the Feast of Tabernacles Eph. 4. the Feast of perfection of Christians that are come to a full stature And the proceedings of the whole Protestant Church especially may hereby be described The Sabbath is neither appointed for sleep nor work nor play The Passover in the first Moneth signified initium novae vitae the sheaf primitias bonorum operum 2 Cor. 5.1 Zech. 14.14.29 but for the Worship of God We are bid to remember this day six days are permitted for fervile work in the literal sense 3. It is called the Sabbath of the Lord and the Lords day 4. The Lord is our president in observing this day he rested himself 5. It is a day of refreshing it upholds all the Ordinances of our edification a day that is blessed of the Lord. All these particulars require us to observe this day as unto the Lord that we might habituate our selves to godlines We should shew our love to the Lord in shewing for whom we work on this day and shew that we make God our delight by making this day our delight Those that eat the Passover must make it their great businesse in purpose and resolution to prepare themselves for the enjoying of Christ those that feast it before the Lord in the Feast of first fruits must make it their great businesse to bring forth fruits unto God those that enjoy the Feast of Tabernacles must make it their great businesse to mortifie the flesh to perfect their humiliation If all leaven be purged out the bitter hearbs of affliction shall but acuate the appetites and cause us to relish the Lamb that is killed for us the better The leaven of sin made Davids heart feel the leaven of grief Psal 73.21 It is in the original My heart was leavened with grief The cakes of the shew-bread were renewed every Lords day if we renew our selves in preparations God wil not be wanting to renew us by confirmations of his grace towards us New cakes are vigorous and pleasant so are such as do dresse themselves anew to appear before the Lord on his high days He that works the six days for God shall rest the seventh day in God Hanc festivitatem nemo celebrare qui non operatus est bona spera Deo dignae potest Hesychius FINIS

whole Church This they could not do as members of one particular Church but as transcendent Officers and as visible Heads of the Catholike Church The Apostles have been called heretofore and that justly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now many and all Churches under the same visible Officers are but one Church many Corporations under one King are but one Body Politick The twelve Tribes in Israel under one King made but one Kingdom 3. The Apostles c. admitted members into the Catholike Church neither in the presence nor under the notion of any particular Church Acts 8. 10. 16. The Eunuch Cornelius the Jaylor and such like were baptized members of no visible Church if there was not a visible Church Universal Ecclesia non est Resp non aristocratio sed regnum Beza Ep. 83. p. 367. 4. Christ is one visible Head one Master of the family one Bishop one King visibly by vertue of his Laws and Ordinances and works of special providence in the Churches Christ walketh in the midst of the golden candlesticks Rev. 1. and sitteth in the midst of two or three gathered together in his Name Matth. 18. Thus a King though absent from his Kingdom is a visible King in his Kingdom The King of England is visibly King of Scotland though he makes his abode and keeps his Court in London 5. The Church of the Jews was a type and patern of the Christian Church Ezek. 40.41 42. Revel 11.1 2. compared with Rev. 21. The Church of the Jews consisted of many Tribes and many Cities yet was but one Body politick The great Synedrian of Jerusalem might resemble the great Presbytery of the Apostles and extraordinary Elders in respect of more ordinary execution in Primitive days and Synods and Councels in respect of lesse ordinary execution in succeeding ages Acts 12.1 Eph. 3.21 1 Tim. 3.15 6. It is correspondent to Scripture-phrase the visible Church is termed in Scripture one Universal Church Matth. 16.18 the Universal Church is one visible Church because it is described as acting visibly in the administrations of the Keys This may be more fully proved in another place See Calvin Instit lib. 4. cap. 1. In Eph. 4. the Universal Church is one visible Church because it is described by its visible Officers Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers 1 Cor. 12 the Universal Church is one visible Church because it is described by its visible Officers in like manner Rev. 11.1 2 3 the Universal Church is described as visible by one city by one court and is called the outward court and so distinguished as it is visible from the mystical Church which is resembled by the Temple 7. The mystical Union of Brotherhood doth naturally constitute one Body mystical Why should not the visible Union of Brotherhood in profession constitute one Body visible The Lord severed the children of Israel into Tribes yet so as that all might be one Body under one Prince and Priest 8. All natural grounds of fellowship in particular Churches in respect of more ordinary execution A sin against authority is a greater sin an evil inflicted by authority is a greater evil do bespeak fellowship in one Catholike Church in point of lesse ordinary execution Brotherly Union Christian profession the edification of the Church the celebration of the Name of Christ all these are prevalent Christ is glorified most eminently in the great Assembly Pride and Independence are inseparable If the children of Jacob had been divided into Tribes as independent States they might soon have rejected one another as Esaeu and Jacob did The notion of a relation doth cherish affection and maintain union 9. The manner of admission in Primitive days obligeth to all Churches to the whole Church as well as to a particular Church 2 Chron. 15.12 34.31 As all Israel together was wont to professe their purpose to walk according to the Law before the Lord so all converts in Primitive days did professe their purpose to walk with all Saints in all the Ordinances of Christ That covenant which converts then made seemeth to be general with reference to all Churches Thus then the Church Militant is one visible Body one House one Family one Tabernacle one Temple one Candlestick one Citie one New Jerusalem Rev. 21. this Jerusalem hath twelve gates and these gates are particular Churches which do admit into the whole City as well as into the particular gates every gate is an entry into the city and all in the city have a virtual admission thorow every gate Every Common-wealth hath power offensive secondarily for the defending of it self or any other in case of oppression Abraham had power to rescue Lot but this power is not equal to the power of Churches God hath distinguished Esau from Jacob in point of Politie but God hath united the children of Jacob by one staff of beauty and another of bonds both by temporal and spiritual authority before Christ came God hath altered the constitution of the world sin hath rent the world in pieces but God hath repaired and united the Church by an Uniformity of Ordinances and by an identity of profession under one visible Head the Lord Christ All Saints are next brethren as the children of Jacob were and united by a perpetual bond The Churches do approve of each others acts by mutual consent when one Church admitteth members electeth Officers dispenseth Censures it acts for all Churches What is done by one gate in Jerusalem is done by the whole city intuitu Beza Ep. 68. p. 290. though not interventu totius Ecclesiae as Master Parker distinguisheth to another purpose Lastly it is generally supposed that all Churches have power to act together and to exert power of Jurisdiction in a General Councel Calvin is expresse Instit l. 4. c. 8 9. And if this be granted it follows that the Church is one visibly It could not act as one in a General Councel if it were not one visibly Operari sequitur esse Object The whole Church hath no visible Head Answ Particular Churches are visible Churches when they are destitute of visible Officers The whole Church accordingly may be one visible Body without any visible Officers at least in respect of power to act conjunctim ordinarily 2. Christ is supposed to be a visible Head in some respect and Ecclesiastical Policie is acknowledged to be Monarchical in respect of Christ Judg 8.23 Josephus observes that there was a Monarchical Theocracie in Israel we may as well conclude that there is such a Monarchie in the Christian Church to the end of the world 3. The Church is one so as to act ordinarily as one divisim And therefore when a particular Presbytery excommunicateth any person he doth excommunicate that person out of all particular Churches or the Universal Church and that by the authority of the universal Church because there is such a mutual consent in all Churches Pastores saith Chamier si

in every Citie and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not exclude villages as it appeareth by Matth. 10.10 Cenchrea was but answerable to a village and yet it is said to have a Church Rom. 16. One Province contained many Churches 1 Cor. 16.1 19. Gal. 1.2 21. Rev. 1.2 The Churches of Galatia were Churches of one Province not one Provincial Church 4. There was no ordinary Officers instituted by Christ for any other then congregational Churches The Elders of every congregation have the same power both intensive and extensive there are no Archbishops or Archdeacons instituted by the Lord. 5. All congregations have the same Titles the same Power the same Ordinances compleatly Nature giveth the same name to similar parts every drop of water is water it hath the same name and the same nature Paris in parem non est pocestus The lamb of the Passeover was to be eaten onely by so many together as might enjoy a festival communion together at one Table Exod. 2. Ancient Canons did prohibite the ordaining of a Presbyter to more then one Title but as the Church did degenerate there came in Non-residence Pluralities Commendaes universal and perpetual Commendaes for term of life or for term of life a distinction of Benefices compatible an incompatible and Canons all these were added to Diocesan Episcopacie and Prelacie The Church in respect of its integrality Pro. 3. may consist but of two or three Noah and his wife and children were a Church Abrahem and Sarah were fundamentally the whole Church of the Jews Adam and Eve were actually the whole Church upon earth The Churches indeed in the Apostles time seem to be somewhat grown before they erected Presbyters yet they were Churches when they were not so numerous and there was the lesse need of ordinary Presbyters because there were extraordintry Two or three cannot be a compleat Church organically Those two or three in Matth. 18. do refer to the Presbytery as may be proved hereafter The family or domestick Churches preceding the Levitical Priesthood do correspond to the congregational Churches constituted by the coming of Jesus Christ and the state of the Church then in point of unity and universality doth confirm the unity and universality of the Church at present The Masters of families with their fathers were Priests in their childrens family as well as in their own houses Melchizedek by vertue of a natural precedency in age as may be supposed was a Priest to Abrahams family as well as in his own Adam if sin had not degraded him had been naturally a Priest for ever unto the whole world If Officers and Discipline strictly taken are not necessary to the being of a Church then a number of Seven or such a number as may afford Officers and exercise Discipline according to the rule Matth. 18 is not necessary And suppose such qualifications in members as are necessary to Officers unnecessary in members to the being of a Church it will follow that such a number as is necessary to the constituting of Officers is unnecessary to the being of a Church Concerning the Form of the Church EXplicite and particular covenants are not necessary to the constitution of Churches Pro. 1. Heb. 10. Acts 19.9 1. Christians fell into fellowship without any such form in Primitive days The Ordinances brotherly relation cohabitation were natural motives the directions and exhortations of the Apostles and Elders did concur Acts 19.9 Paul is said to separate the brethren in Ephesus 2. Elders were ordained without any explicite covenants both before and since the time of the Gospel we read of a charge but not one syllable of a covenant Now if Officers were ordained without any covenant May not members by proportion be admitted without any explicite covenant 3. One ground may be the unity of the Church in general we must not so close with a particular Church which is but a part of the Church as to break relations with the whole Church universal in confining members strictly to one particular Church 4. Another ground may be this Fellowship in a particular Church is conditional and transient and a duty of no greater moment then many other which are not to be instanced in unto admission 5. In the Acts there is no appearance of explicite covenanting with the Church in particular or general There was an explicite profession of faith and repentance and a cleaving unto the Lord Acts 2.8 No shew of covenanting to cleave to each other in Church-fellowship no shew I say of any such explicite covenanting Christians counted themselves next brethren one and the same houshold and were exhorted to maintain the unity of the Spirit as one body at one table as much as might be for edification The mystical Church in the Temple was represented by twelve cakes on the table called The bread of faces because all Saints sit there together face to face feeding on the Lord Jesus in way of communion The visible Church or Church of the outward court is also called to one and the same table mystical as far as all may sit together 6. We finde no explicite covenanting in Israel but with God and Israels covenanting with God was solemnized and attended as occasion did urge in collapsed times There is not any evidence of their covenanting conjoyntly with God at their first constitution there may be granted an explicite covenant of reformation but not of constitution of confirmation or reformation not of admission Object It is recorded in Neh. 10.29 that they clave to their brethren Answ It is explicated in the same verse how they clave to their brethren namely to covenant with God They did not covenant to cleave to their brethren but they clave to their brethren to covenant with God Besides some duties that concerned the House of God and the Officers of the House of God are there particularized but Church-fellowship is made no part of the covenant For an explicite covenant of reformation we have Nehemiah Hezekiah Jehoiada c. authentick examples but for an explicite covenant of constitution we have authentick examples to the contrary the Apostles themselves such as it must needs be presumption in us to oppose In the Old Testament it is usual to speak of a covenant of conversion and reformation but neither in the Old or New can we finde an explicite covenant of constitution of Churches and admission of members A people professing faith a resolution to embrace the Ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ together is a Church before there be any explicite covenanting together there is an implicite covenant in such a profession Pro. 2. When a company of Christians are called to dwell together where there is no foundation of a Church there is need of some explicite conjunction or consent Such are to make known their desire and faith to one another either by testimony or by their profession And where Elders of some neighbouring Church may be procured it is

Levites as a Sacrifice to God Exod. 29.13 not to our moral separating of Officers under the Gospel That act of Imposition doth rather import somthing of Election then of Ordination as we may shew in another question Calvins opinion is that Ordination ought to be administred by Elders praesse etium electioni debere alios pastores Doctor Ames granteth to Bellar. Instit lib. 4. cap. 3. that it is the doctrine of the reformed church that Ordination is an act of the Elders except in case of a general Apostacie Bellar. Ener de vocations Clericorum Election is an essential application of authority in the way of Jurisdiction Ordination is a circumstantial application of authority sutable to the power of Order and Office Election is an act of essential Jurisdiction Ordination is proper to official power and jurisdiction The least Ordinances in point of exemption are proper to the Officers as the greatest persons in respect of executive power The Keys of natural power of of general Office are in the members the Keys of instituted power or of Office in special in the Elders I might distinguish thus The Keys of natural power are in the body of members the Keys of Office in the Elders Concerning the Officers of the Church A Bishop and Presbyter are the same in point of power Pro. 1. both of Order and Jurisdiction both intensively and extensively 1. The Lording or Magistratical power is prohibited all Presbyters for what is allowed in Magistrates is disallowed in Ministers Luke 22.25 26. The Apostle Peter interpreteth the words of our Savour 1 Pet. 5.3 2. All Elders or Presbyters of Churches are equally styled Bishops in Scripture Acts 20. Phil. 3. Tit. 1. 1 Tim. 3. And those which have wholly the same Titles have the same Office 3. All Presbyters have equally the flock of Christ with them Act. 20. Cyprian might have said of Presbyters and Bishops together what he said of Bishops in his own sense Episcopatus est unus cujus pars in sclidum tenetur a singulis The Apostle made many Bishops in one Congregation but not one Bishop for many Congregations The Word of God is far from allowing teaching Elders to be onely ruling Bishops to rule by themselves and teach by others Personal qualifications must be personally executed and teaching Elders are the excelling Bishops The office of Bishops is a Ministery not onely a dignity therefore he that hath the title must do the work 1 Tim. 5.17 4. The Office of Diocesans is both formally and efficiently Antichristian Grant a Primate of England and why not of the whole world Gregory justly called John of Constantinople The forerunner of Antichrist 5. In other Orders there was no precedency instituted by the Lord Christ No Arch-Apostle no Arch-Evangelist no Arch-Presbyter or Arch-Bishop In the Temple the High-priest was a type of Christ the sons of the High priest were types of Presbyters and they were equal in the matter of their Office This Proposition according to Jeromes assertion had place of great authority amongst the Papists themselves until the Councel of Trent It hath been witnessed unto by the Fathers anciently The invented Orders of the Papists have been some of the plagues of the Antichristian Egypt The praedicant Orders of Antichrist are like to the clamorous Froggs the mendicant Friars or manducant Friars as Buchanan hath it are like to the creeping Lice the plague of Egypt of the Church and of the world This Proposition is abundantly elaborated by many Some Theologes opposed the superiority of Bishops as maintained to be Jure divino in the Councel of Trent the Cardinals opposed it also though for their own sakes It is an extraordinary judgement of God that so many Christian Princes and Kingdoms do suffer the Papal bondage all this while Nome populus as one said diutius ex conditione esse potest cujus eum poeniteat Object Timothy and Titus are made Diocesan Bishops by the Postscripts of those Epistles which are written to them Answ The Postscripts are proved to be Apocrypha by Beza and others When Paul saloteth the Elders of Ephesus Act. 20 he owneth Archbishop there but equally saluteth them all Besides Timoshy his course was ambulatory and he is called an Evangelist 2 Tim. 1.4 ● Titus was in the same rank with Timothy As for the Angels of the seven Churches in the Revelation they were Angels but of so many Congregations and do represent all the Elders of those Churches No Diocesan can be made to appear in the three next centuries after the Lord Christ The Angels are not called Archangels The seven stars the four beasts are all the Elders of all the Churches not onely seven or four The two Witnesses Revel 11 do represent all the witnesses of Truth The singular is frequently read for the plural All Bishops or Presbyters are both Pastors and Teachers Pro. 2. Pastors and Teachers are not distinct Officers 1. All the Priests under the High-priest all the fons of Aaron had the same Function or Office in the Temple There was not one a teaching Priest another an exhorting Priest a third a ruling Priest as if one Presbyter should be a teaching Bishop another an exhorting Bishop a third a ruling Bishop 2. The Apostle assigneth the title of Pastor and Teacher to the same Office Ephes 4. Some are Apostles some Prophets Jer. 5.15 some Evangelists some according to the Apostle Pastors and Teachers which is as much as both Pastors and Teachers It is supposed by some that the Apostle used and for some as if the copulative and were disjunctive in this place and the meaning of the Apostle this Some Pastors some Teachers But the Apostle doth not speak after such a manner as to insinuate any such interpretation he doth not so much as say And Pastors and Teachers onely Some Pastors and Teachers There is no parallel in all the Scripture which will prove that and loth stand for some 3. Pastors do not any where denote such as had the gift of exhortation most eminently but rather such as had the gift or office of Government both in the Old and New Testament 4. Teachers are properly before Pastors in order as they are taken for exhorters exhortations are dependent applications of Doctrines The Apostle placeth teaching before exhorting 2 Tim. 13.16 Tit. 1.9 5. All Bishops are called both to teach and exhort Tit. 1.9 Every Bishop saith the Apostle must exhort with wholesome doctrine 6. Pastors are sometimes described onely by the administration of teaching Go make disciples teaching them Matth. 28.19 20. A Bishop must be apt to teach 1 Tim. 3. The distinct gifts of teaching and exhorting do denominate some teachers and some exhorters rather then some Pastors and some Teachers 7. The Office of Bishops or Presbyters is made sometimes to consist onely in feeding as if all were Pastors Paul biddeth all the Elders feed the flock of Christ Acts 20. Peter speaketh in like manner 1