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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90523	A defence of church-government, exercised in presbyteriall, classicall, & synodall assemblies; according to the practise of the reformed churches: touching I. The power of a particular eldership, against those that plead for a meere popular government, specially Mr Ainsvvorth in his Animadversion to Mr Clyft. &c. II. The authority of classes and synods, against the patrons of independencie: answering in this poynt Mr Davenport his Apologeticall reply, &c. and Mr Canne his Churches plea, &c, sent forth first by W. Best, and afterwards for this part of it, under the title of Syons prerogative royall. By Iohn Paget, late able and faithfull pastour of the Reformed English Church in Amsterdam. Hereunto is prefixed an advertisement to the Parliament, wherein are inserted some animadversions on the Cheshire Remonstrance against Presbytery: by T.P.	Paget, John, d. 1640.; Paget, Thomas, d. 1660.	1641 (1641)	Wing P166; Thomason E117_1; ESTC R16734	348,418	298

due unto them unlesse some other study and work together with the labour of hearing examining and judging of causes did require the same II. As for Mal. 2.7 the knowledge in the Priests lips there spoken of was that which he principally manifested in his office of publick preaching the law of God Deut. 33.10 Lev. 10.11 in which office the Elders doe not succeed them and so have no speciall maintenance due in that regard Againe the knowledge in the Priests lips appeared secondarily in judiciall causes which they heard examined judged Deut. 17.8 9-12 2 Chron. 19.8 Zech. 3.7 This power you give unto the people now as well as unto the Elders who therefore by your doctrine deserve no more maintenance for the same then doe the people in this regard III. Though we grant that Elders are to have their ordinary meetings apart for the Church-affaires yet doth not your allegation from Act. 21.18 prove the same for that meeting being upon extraordinary occasion to entertaine the Apostle Paul and those that were with him who being new come to Ierusalem they came together to salute embrace one another to heare tidings of the successe of the Gospel to rejoyce together in the Lord vers 19. and then consulted further of such things as tended to the edification of the Church vers 20. c. You might as well conclude that strangers of other Congregations should be present in the ordinary assembly of the Elders because we doe here read of some such who being in Pauls company were now also present at this speciall meeting of the Elders in Ierusalem Act. 21.15 16 17 18. H. AINSVV. Fourthly when apparant sinners so convicted by witnesses are to be judged by the Church there is no time more fit then the Sabbath day wherein all men are board to leave their owne works Exo. 20.10 tend to the Lords of which sort this is REPL. I. Though I doe not hold it simply unlawfull to judge causes on the Sabbath day yet that this day is the fittest your allegation from Exod. 20. shewes it not Men may then leave their owne works tend to the Lords though they heare no controversies pleaded yea much more fitly comfortably and fruitfully may they attend upon the publick administration of the Word Prayer Sacraments and sanctify themselves thereunto in private both by dueties of preparatiō before and by dueties of meditation repetition conference c. afterward if the mindes of Minister people be not distracted or hindred by other controversies and contentions Psal 26.6 Matt. 5.8 Exo. 19.10 30 18-21 Act. 17.11 Psal 119.11 c. That there hath bene such a disturbance and hindrance among you it is testifyed not onely by strangers which sometimes hearing you doe complaine hereof but also by your owne Ministers as Mr Iohnson Mr Clyfton and your owne people both such as have left you and even such as still remaine with you II. As Ecclesiasticall judgements are the Lords works so are Civill judgements also which the Magistrates sitting on the Lords throne in stead of the Lord their God doe administer execute in his name 2. Chron. 19.6 9.8 And by this reasoning you might make the Sabbath to be the fittest day for them also H. AINSVV. Or if that day suffice not they may take any other for them convenient for c. REPL. You doe hereby yeeld unto us that you have walked in an uncleane way and that you have according to your owne doctrine an uncleane and polluted people for seeing as Mr Iohnson confesseth witnesseth (m) Treat on Matt. 18. p. 17. your wonted manner hath bene to heare matters on the week day at which time there was seldome half the Church together if now according to (n) Anim. adv p. 42. your former arguing from 1. Tim. 5.22 men cannot keep themselves pure from partaking with other mens sinnes unlesse they see heare the conviction of those whom they doe reject then hath half your Church together bene defiled many times while they have consented to the excommunication of such at the hearing and examination of whose cause they have not bene present H. AINSVV. For unto publick affaires the Church is to be assembled 1. Cor. 5.4 Act. 14.27 15.4 30. 21 18-22 REPL. This your generall and indefinite speech doth admit many exceptions for I. Even the Elders when they have their meetings apart as you grant unto them doe consider together of the publick affaires and there you see then that the Church is not alwayes to be assembled unto publick busines II. If the whole Church and all the members thereof men women children and servants must assemble to heare the proceedings against them whom they are to avoyd reject according to your plea and this also on the week dayes though it should be day after day as may come to passe in great Congregations and when many cases are to be heard c. as was (o) R Clyfr Advert p. 42. before objected unto you what reason is there that the Elders should have speciall maintenance in respect of this work where all the members of the Church are bound to attend upon the work as well as they To this you say nothing III. Even unto the publick administration of the word and prayer you doe not binde your people on the week day but leave it free for them to come or not to come unto the same And shall the hearing of examinations proceedings against particular men have more honour then the word preached Yea which is much more by this your opinion and reasoning you doe more binde your people to be present at controversies even on the week day then to heare the word and prayer even on the Lords day for to be absent from judiciall proceedings on the week day doth not onely require acknowledgment of a fault as doth the absence from publick worship on the Lords day but by your doctrin it doth also require a reversing repeating of the proceedings or else a refusall to allow the same in not rebuking or rejecting them who are publickly censured rebuked or excommunicated by the Church IV. As in respect of the ease commodity of the Church the hearing of some publick affaires is to be committed to the Eldership as hath bene shewed before so also for the avoyding of scandall offence for example the examination of each particular act and circumstance serving for the conviction of offendours in some uncleane filthy sinnes and the open repetition naming hereof before the whole Congregation men women young old your owne people strangers that come to heare cannot but be very offensive so is found to be for it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done of many in secret Eph. 5.12 And even shame it self as it seemes hath forced you sometimes to leave this your practise which you so earnestly plead for As heretofore in the case

A DEFENCE OF CHVRCH-GOVERNMENT Exercised in PRESBYTERIALL CLASSICALL SYNODALL ASSEMBLIES According to the practise of the Reformed Churches Touching I. The power of a particular Eldership against those that plead for a meere Popular Government specially Mr AINSVVORTH in his Animadversion to Mr Clyft c. II. The authority of Classes and Synods against the Patrons of Independencie answering in this poynt Mr DAVENPORT his Apologeticall Reply c. and Mr CANNE his Churches Plea c sent forth first by W. Best and afterwards for this part of it under the title of Syons Prerogative Royall By IOHN PAGET late able and faithfull Pastour of the Reformed English Church in Amsterdam Hereunto is prefixed an Advertisement to the Parliament wherein are inserted some Animadversions on the Cheshire Remonstrance against Presbytery by T. P. MDCXLI Printed by H. A. for Thomas Vnderhill dwelling at the signe of the Bible in Woodstreet LONDON AN Humble Advertisment to the high Court OF PARLIAMENT Right Honorable and most prudent Patriots IT is the divine observation of Ecclesiastes the Sonne of David King in Ierusalem (a) Eccles 3.1 7. To every thing there is a season A time to keepe silence and a time to speake Truly it hath seemed to be a time to keepe silence in some by-gone yeeres in England when the (b) Amos 5.13 prudent Ministers of God were necessitated to keepe silence through the evill of the times having beene (c) Isa 29.21 made offenders for a word as if their doctrine had beene (d) Amos 7.10 conspiracy against the State and the land not able to beare all their words Howbeit for the English (e) Isa 62.1.6 Zion and Ierusalems sake the Lords remembrancers could not hold their peace nor keepe silence in secret but (f) Isa 26.20 entring into their chambers and shutting the doores about them to hide themselves as it were for a litle moment have powred out their complaints and supplications before the Lord who is (g) Psal 65.2 a God that heareth prayers and (h) Math. 6.6 seeth in secret waiting on him till the indignatiō should be overpast But now it seemeth there is a time to speake in England And (i) Prov. 15.23 a word spokē in due season how good is it sith (k) 1. Cor. 16.9 a great doore effectuall is opened by a longed-for hopefull Parliament Oh how admirable it is even to amazement that the hearts and tongues of the people of God throughout the English nation have beene so graciously enlarged (l) Hos 14.2 in taking words with them not only (m) Zach. 12.12 13 14. in their humiliations apart in families but also on the dayes (n) 2. Chron. 20.3.4 appointed by authority for solemne prayer fasting to (o) Ezr. 8.21 seeke a right way for themselves and for their litle ones and for all their substance speaking and crying unto the Lord (p) Amos 7.5 Cease we beseech thee by whom shall English Iacob arise for he is small Yea and is it not exceedingly marvellous also how after supplicating God in such sort their (q) Act. 17.16 Spirits were stirred in them to speake to your Honors of the cure-all-court of Parliament in their manifold Petitions for Reformatiō contributing votes by thousands of severall Counties And what though (r) 1. Cor. 16.9 there be many adversaries that doe murmur and repine at those (f) Luk. 19.39 40. wel-approved zelots May it not be thought that if they had held their peace the stones would immediately have cryed out The blessed tidings of this reviving state of English affaires spreading abroad in sundry countreys is come also into the Vnited Netherlands to refresh as (t) Prov. 25.25 good news is wont from a farre countrey such of us of the English nation who have been enforced by home-oppressions to seeke for liberty imployment and livelihood as the (v) 2. Chro. 11.13 14. Priests Levites in Israel did on somwhat the like occasion who yet in our measure (x) Ier. 51.50 Psal 137.5 6. remember the Lord afarre of not daring through forgetfulnes to let goe out of minde our most endeared native countrey (y) Psal 122.6.9 Let them prosper that love and seeke the welfare of England Hence your Honors most humble advertiser convinced of not (z) 2. King 7.9 doing well to remaine altogether silēt readily tooke hold on the opportunity of the ensuing treatise as (a) Luk. 19.3 4. Zacheus climbed up into a Sycomore tree to see his Saviour because of the presse and litlenes of his stature to insert a word to be as (b) Mark 12.42 the widows farthing some addition to the great stock of more able qualified seekers of Reformation Most noble and right worthy Sirs It were much to have beene wished t 'had never beene (c) 2. Sam. 1.20 told in Gath that the (d) Psal 12.1 Mic. 7.1 2. godly men have ceased and the faithfull failed in England Woe is us t is too notoriously knowne how that divers worthies of the Lord of b. m. (e) 2. King 2.12 the chariots and horsmen of the English Israel who by (f) Psal 46.4 the christalline streames of pure doctrine made glad the citty of God had their (g) Reve. 11.7 untimely deaths hastened by sharpe tempests of persecution raised against them by the Hierarchie through their Summoning Traducing Reproching Suspending Excommunicating Depriving Fining Imprisoning trampling on them as unsavory salt or as broken and despised vessels cast to the wals Others have beene constrained to provide for their breathing as they could by removing into forraine parts after much suffering at home and thereby exposed to the bitter miseries (h) Psal 56.8 Isa 16.3 4. of wanderers being debarred of the pleasant land of their nativity ancient habitations naturall kinred familiar acquaintance meanes of subsistance accustomed aire and wonted manners of people and instead thereof (i) Ezek. 3.5 6. cast into a land of strangers and of a strange language as a greater aggravation of their most disconsolate condition Yea (k) Psal 44.17 all this come upon them onely for their (l) Act. 24.16 endeavoring to keepe consciences void of offence towards God towards men in refusall of conformity to some superstitious ceremonies subscription to the Canon albeit they never refused to subscribe according to * Stat. Q. Eliz. 13.12 the law of the land whereas otherwise they were orthodoxe and painfull in their ministery and unblamable in their conversation approving themselves to the (m) 2. Cor. 4.2 consciences of their adversaries Moreover they were such as highly prized the Church-assemblies of England and diligently frequented and joyned in the solemne administration of the word Sacraments and prayers so farre as they could free themselves from their owne personall pollutions and defilements as (n) Mat. 23.1 2 3. our Lord Christ directeth in such case A true report of some Prelaticall

some redresse (d) Esth 7.4 I crave leave therfore to suggest a few of the wofull fruits ❀ sad consequents of Prelaticall proceedings * Sad consequents of Prelacy For evē hence it is come to passe that I. Some well affected Parents have beene discouraged from training up their hopefull sonnes in such learning as should fit to the Ministery II. Some conscientious yong men having attained to a good degree of learning have diverted applied their studies otherwaies III. Some in the Ministery concerning the faith have made shipwrack or schismed dangerously entertaining unsoūd unwarrantable opinions courses turning to be Anabaptists Separatists Semi-separatists c. and others become licentious or meerly formall and careles in the execution of their calling IV. Some of the (e) 2. Pet. 2.2 people have follovved their pernicious deceivable waies of Anabaptisme Separation Independēcy Popularity Profanesse by reason of whom the way of trueth is evill spoken of (f) Hos 4.9 Like Priest like People V. But behold greater scandals thē these for hence (g) Ezek. 8.3 the image of jealousy which provoketh to jealousy even (h) 2. Thes 2.7 the Mystery of iniquity hath beene more bold to lift up the head (i) Ezek. 8.12 16. chambers of imagery have beene raised at the upper end of Chācels Altars placed theron and worship directed towards the East VI. Hence * In the yeere 16 17. D. Mortō B. of Chester framed the directions for the first liberty grāted to sports on the Lords day at the same time he soe eagerly prosecuted the Non-conformists about Ceremonies a wide gap hath beene opened to Libertinisme in the audacious profanation of the Lords day grosse contempt of the faithfull ministery scorning at the performances of family duties bolstring of ignorance the stepdame of devotiō countenancing of Wakes Rush-bearings Mixt-dancings May-poles Beare-beatings Stage-playes Revellings Healthings all manner of the like disordered courses with a censuring all strictnes in religion circumspect walking to be foolish precisenes Puritanisme VII Hence have followed those irregular confusions in the popular and independent governmēt of the Brownistically affected breaking in pieces againe and againe to their great reproch yet discovering therby that their (k) Act. 5.38 nevv way is not of God sith it doeth daily come to nought by their owne disuniting and unchurching of themselves viii (l) Iudg. 5.15 Hence have risen those great thoughts of heart amongst brethrē occasioning bitter contentions fruitles janglings censorious words tart galling writings alienation of affections strangenes of countenance breach of Christian fellowship interruption of prayers neglect of necessary mutual offices ix Yea hence doubtles hath issued as from the proper originall that unworthy Remonstrance against Presbytery represented to the house of Peers from divers Noblemen and Gentlemē of Cheshire as appeareth by a printed booke under the name of Sir Thomas Aston Baronet 1641. The greivous scādal offence wherof may in some part be evinced by these short animadversions following Animadversions on the Cheshire Remonstrance I. The title of it A Remonstrance against Presbytery ANIMADVERS Of the title the same may be said which was observed Declaration against Vorstius by the great wise king Iames of famous memory touching the title of Bertius his booke de apostasia sanctorum viz. The title only were enough to make it worthy the fire Because I. The holy Scripture approveth of Presbytery as a divine ordināce both for the (m) 1. Tim. 4.14 impositiō of hands also for (n) 1. Tim. 5.17 the exercise of rule government II. Presbytery is established in the neighbour Reformed Churches which are precious in the eyes of the Lord of all well-affected to the reformed religiō in England III. Prelaticall men are not wont in their writings to contradict it simply How commeth it then to passe that some in Cheshire (o) Numb 12.8 are not afraid to speake against Presbytery II. The pretended occasion of the Remonstrance against Presbytery alledged by the contriver subscribers is A Petition Positions preached at Chester Knutesford annexed to the Remonstrance ANIMADV The occasion of the suggested pretence is but a meere pretence having noe just ground at all For I. Neither the Petition nor Positions anexed to the Remonstrance doe seeke for * Presbyterian discipline mentioned in the positions in greater characters seeme to be the words of Remōst not of the Preacher disaffected to Presbyterian government Presbytery but seeme rather to affect a popular government II. The Patrons of popular government contended for in the positions are for the most part either Separatists or Semi-separatists who are as opposite to Presbyteriall governmēt as they are to Prelacy as is well knowne to them that know them And therfore it behooveth Cheshire men to (p) Iohn 7.24 give righteous judgement when they take upon them to censure in-no-wise confound jumble together opiniōs defenders of them soe directly opposite For (q) 2. Cor. 5.10 we must all appeare at the tribunall of the (r) Gen. 18.25 righteous judge of all the world who will doe right III. REMONSTR taketh for granted that * Provinciall Diocesan B B. are to be understood by the Remonstr otherwise nothing is concluded Provinciall Diocesan Bishops are of Apostolicall institution (f) Philip. 1.1 1. Tim. 3.1 alledging in the margent two texts of Scripture for his proofe ANIMADV Neither of the texts alledged doe inferre an Apostolicall institution of Provinciall Diocesan Bishops For I. The originall words translated * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishops or Overseers * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Presbyters or Elders are equivalent names of the same office are soe used in the (t) Act. 20.17 28. 1. Pet. 5.1 2. Scripture II. The pleaders for Hierarchie doe grant that Bishops and Presbyters in Scripture phrase are the same III. The text in the Epist to Phil. 1.1 mentioneth Bishops in the plurall number that is such officers as did oversee the Church at Philippi not a Bishop alone superiour to other officers in degree or government according to the opiniō of Hierarchicall men (v) 3. Iohn 9. affecting preeminence IV. The text in 1. Tim. 3.1 mentioneth also office as well as Bishop which office is described in the (x) 1. Tim. 3.2 3 4 5 6 7. subsequent verses to be the office of the Presbyter And this may appeare further by comparing therwith the (y) Tit. 1.5 6 7. Epist to Titus V. It is good to be wise according to sobriety in understanding some things in (z) 2. Pet. 3.16 Pauls Epistles other Scriptures lest for wāt of learning stability they be wrested to destruction This is an usefull item for Cheshire men others also IV. REMONSTR commendeth Bishops that they were the great lights of the Churches and Martyrs in primitive times ANIMADV

times speak And for the delay occasioned partly by the difficulty of the work and partly by other distractions want of necessary helps for dispatch the book itself unto those that are not unacquainted with businesses of this nature will give reasonable satisfaction That which thou here seest touching Classes and Synods was written by the Authour in the latter dayes of his pilgrimage amidst sundry bodily weaknesses other necessary imployments There are now three yeares expired since he rested from this other his labours having served the will of God in his owne age entred into the joy of his Lord. Being warned some time before by a messenger of death to desist from the pursuit of this work he gave way that in convenient time as I was able I should husband these his notes for publick use It were to have been wished that his owne eye hand might have prevented the charge of an executour herein So shouldest thou have had this work farre more compleat and refined then now can be expected But the Almighty infinite in understanding to whom belong the issues of life and death hath ordered otherwise who will say unto him What doest thou According to the trust therefore committed unto me I doe now at length set foorth this monument of his godly painfull labours touching this weighty point of Church-government I have forborne as much as might be to interpose my rude pencill in this master-piece The liberty allowed unto me for the persiting of what was wanting I have used no further then was requisite for the coupling of the parts together out of severall papers written at severall times for the filling up of a few gaps specially in Ch. 7. having had the opportunity to meet with some bookes which the Authour wanted I have withall added a small Supplement for answer unto what remained in Mr Cannes book touching this poynt according to the first edition the same which the Authour onely saw followed in this his Defence And thus I have also cast my mite into this Treasury before I opened it for publick benefit If my coine be not currant let not that prejudice the rich supply that may be had out of the Authours store the value whereof will sufficiently discover itself unto them that with understanding unpartiall mindes receive it Howbeit thou art allowed desired according to the Authours meaning to bring it to the touchstone of trueth to the Law to the Testimony According this word try the reasons on both sides and hold fast that which is good Farewell from DORT Where a most pregnant effectuall testimonie hath been given for the needfull authority of Synods with which testimony the Authour hath closed his writing touching this subject Where this his Treatise now comes to light which we hope may prove usefull to direct unto the like remedy where the like case may require it He that hath the Starres in his right hand so guide the beames of this Candle now set upon the Candlestick that it may give light unto all that are in the house that the darke corners of errour may be further disclosed the lustre of his owne Ordinances becomes more apparent With this suit I againe take leave requesting thee to joyne therein with him that desires to be Thine in trueth R. PAGET THE FIRST PART OF THIS TREATISE Touching The Povver of a particular Eldership CHAP. 1. The occasion of this vvriting and the State of the Question WHereas Mr Ainsworth was desired by the Authour (a) Arrow ag Separ f. 2. v. to set down his reasons concerning whatsoever he thought might be a just cause of refusing communion with that part●●ular Congregation whereof he was a Minister Mr Ainsw in his answer among the rest hath (b) Ibid. pag. 5. these words Other things there are wherein you know we differ from you c. Your Eldership sitteth judgeth matters apart from the Congregation c. Concerning which particular the Authour thus (c) Ibid. p. 33. replyed Though our Eldership for the examination of parties witnesses and for their consultations thereabout do sit apart as is meet yet do we not exclude or debarre any from hearing seeing the conviction of any sinne that is either publique of it self or persisted in when they desire the same yea we our selves have oft desired their presence to behold the convictions admonitions rebukes of offenders And further before any sentence be given for the cutting off of any offender we do first propound the matter unto the whole Church requiring their prayers advise and consent without which never yet any judgment of excommunication hath bene executed against any amongst us and this also is propounded unto them by divers degrees long oft before any pronouncing of sentence that so our brethren may have sufficient time both to informe themselves of the matter and to deliberate ripely thereof c. Mr Ainsworth in his next having (d) Ibid p. 317. sayd I put you in minde that you have not as yet alledged any one word of God for your Consistory c. the Authour puts him in minde of his owne allowing the same by communicating therewith in some measure whereof he had bene told (e) Ibid. p. 32. before whereunto he answered not a word and addes (f) Ibid p. 330. further Seeing you have not yet answered neither the (g) Exp. of Matt. 18. first nor the (h) Christian plea. last booke of Mr Iohnson wherein he hath written against your popular government what meane you to call for more if more be requisite you may see that I promised you in my former (i) Arrow ag Sep p. 33. writing that when I should receive any arguments from you to prove your refusall of communion upon these grounds that I would then give further answer unto you The errours which you have published in your Animadversion for the maintenance of your popular order and the enormities which in that order are committed by you in your unlawfull excommunications censures are so many that they require a distinct treatise for the refutation thereof of which I purpose to say more hereafter as occasion is given c. Hereupon and about the same time was written that which followes though not happily all that was intended By that which is sayd it may appeare that the Question is not whether the power of the keyes be given to the Church or whether the power of excommunication be in the body of the Church or whether Church-government ought to be with the peoples free consent c. All this may be granted and yet the point in controversy remaine undecided But the difference is about the execution judiciall exercising of this power Whether every offence to be judged or cause to be determined ought to be brought to the multitude or body of the Congregation and they to give their voyces therein together with the Officers of

live to this onely true forme or els to betake themselves unto some Church so formed as they tender their spirituall safety comfortable assurance in Christ But we on the contrary side though we hold that Classes and Synods are most necessary and profitable for the well being of the Church being also prescribed unto us by divine ordinance See Voet. Desp Caus Pap. p. 65 2. yet doe we not hold that the essence being of the Church doth consist in this much lesse in that forme of government commended by them If a particular Church of God should sojourne among the Indians or among Hereticks where it could not obtaine fellowship with other Churches out of it self or if by violence or other unavoydable inconveniencies any Church should be hindred from enjoying this benefit of combination with other Churches in Classicall government yet doe we acknowledge that notwithstanding this want such a Church might still subsist be reputed a true Church And yet so that we hold every Church bound to seek this dependency union with other Churches as God shall give oportunity meanes and cannot without sinne neglect the same To this place belongs the answer unto two of those Questions which Mr Canne (a) Churches plea. p. 33. propounds upon another occasion I. CAN. Whither it be Jure Divino that Ecclesiasticall Officers of many Churches are necessarily bound to determine by joint authority the cases of many particular Congregations or whither it be a thing arbitrary left unto every mans liberty ANSVV. That the combination of Churches in Classes Synods for judging determining the cases of many particular Churches by joynt authority is a divine ordinance and appointed Jure Divino is that which I maintaine labour to prove in this Dispute in the following Arguments As it is not a thing arbitrary and left unto every mans liberty whether he shall joyne himself as a member unto a particular Church if he have meanes and opportunity to doe it so it is not a thing arbitrary nor left in the liberty of particular Churches whether they shall combine themselves into Classes Synods for their spirituall government if they have opportunity All that neglect to doe it sinne against the communion of Saints walke not as becomes the members of the body of Christ Rom. 12.5 1. Cor. 12.25 Eph. 4.16 I. CAN. Whither all such cases and controversies as are decided by many Ministers combined into Classes Synods must so stand as that particular Congregations may not if they thinke fit reject the same and practise otherwise then hath bene there determined by joint authority ANSVV. Men are bound to stand unto the judgements of Classes Synods so farre as their determinations are found agreeable unto the Word no further Act. 4.19 But if any particular Church reject their sentence determination being consonant unto the Scripture then that Church committeth double sinne once for transgressing against the written word of God and againe for despising the ordinance of God and contemning the joynt authority of such as are met together in his name Particular Churches are so to respect and stand unto the determinations of Classicall or Provinciall Synods even as particular men and members of a Church are bound to stand unto the sentence of that Church where they are members viz. according to the trueth and will of Gods and not otherwise CHAP. II. The first Argument taken from the words of the Lavv Deut. 17 8-12 THe first Argument is taken from the ordinance of God delivered by Moses of old unto Israel where the people of God in particular Congregations were taught to bring their hard difficult controversies as well Ecclesiasticall as Civill unto a superiour Judicatory unto the Priests the Levites or unto the Judge in those dayes according to the quality of the cause for the deciding thereof Deut. 17 8-12 This Order was also reestablished in the dayes of Iehoshaphat who placed and settled in Ierusalem an Ecclesiasticall Synedrion or Senate for the matters of the Lord over which Amariah was President these were to receive the complaints and to judge the causes of their brethren that came up unto them from other cities places of their habitation even as there was also a Civill Synedrion for the affaires of the King over which Zebadiah was President 2. Chron. 19 8-11 This forme of government is commended unto us of David as the praise of Ierusalem when he poynts out distinctly these two kindes of Senates (a) See Iun. Annot. on Psal 122. Ecclesiasticall and Civill thrones of judgement and thrones of the house of David whereunto the Tribes even the Tribes of the Lord did goe up Psa 122.4.5 As Paul once rejoyced in the spirit to see the order of the Colossians Col. 2.5 so David considering the beauty of this order declares the same to be one speciall cause of his spirituall gladnes joy in the Lord witnessed in that Psalme Hereby it is evident that the Assemblies Synagogues of Israel were not independent but stood under an Ecclesiasticall authority out of themselves they had no single uncompounded policie all Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction was not limited unto particular Congregations Now let us see what our opposites say to this I. CAN. (b) Churches plea. p. 43 44. Hee seekes to strengthen the authority of Classes Synods by the Iewish politie government Now the Papists to establish the Sea of Rome use the same argument And the truth is if Mr Paget intend to dispute this way they will cary it quite away from him But I thinke he will hereafter be more considerate and speake no further of that manner and forme of Church government seeing he knowes the most learned on our side doe condemne the Papists for it viz. (c) Animadv contr 1. l. 3. c. 4. Iunius (d) Inst l. 4. c 6. sect 2. Calvin (e) Ag. Whitg l. 2. p. 614. Cartwright (f) Contr. 4. qu. 1. D. Whitaker others ANSVV. Mr Ainsworth before him speakes much in like manner to this purpose he saith (g) Animadv p. 15.16 It is a mayn pillar of Popery to proportion the Church now in the outward politie to Israel The Rhemists would have (h) Rhem. annot on Mat. 23.2 the see of Rome in the new law to be answerable to the chair of Moses Cardinall Bellarmine (i) De Rom. Pout l. 4. c. 1 maketh his first argument for the Popes judging of controversies from the Priest Judge that was appointed in the Law Deut. 17. c. And there also he alledgeth three of the same witnesses against arguing from the Iewish policie which here Mr Canne citeth againe Mr Davenp pleads to the same effect saying (k) Apol. repl p. 254. The Texts which Bellarmine alledgeth for the power of Councills in making lawes are the same which the Answerer sometimes harpeth upon in this case but Iunius clearly sheweth that they