consideration_n of_o our_o wise_a parliament_n in_o hope_n their_o wisdom_n will_v take_v due_a care_n to_o prevent_v the_o impend_a misery_n of_o our_o nation_n for_o very_o many_o thousand_o will_n rather_o have_v moderate_a episcopacy_n up_o than_o this_o senseless_a government_n of_o lay-elders_a which_o be_v indeed_o no_o ruler_n but_o mere_a stalk_a horse_n or_o ass_n or_o a_o disguise_n wherein_o the_o presbyter_n may_v plunder_v the_o people_n of_o liberty_n of_o conscience_n pretend_v it_o be_v not_o the_o art_n of_o clergy_n only_o pretty_a judgle_n but_o no_o more_o of_o this_o stultum_fw-la est_fw-la obsurdas_fw-la opiniones_fw-la accuratius_fw-la refellere_fw-la i_o will_v proceed_v to_o treat_v of_o that_o part_n or_o division_n of_o this_o work_n lie_v next_o in_o order_n to_o wit_n of_o spiritual_a elder_n in_o general_a and_o that_o our_o lay-elders_a may_v not_o right_o be_v take_v for_o such_o every_o bishop_n presbyter_n pastor_n or_o other_o grave_n and_o reverend_a divine_a be_v right_o and_o true_o call_v a_o spiritual_a elder_n and_o to_o prove_v this_o my_o assertion_n i_o need_v not_o wander_v far_o to_o fetch_v authority_n from_o rare_a author_n the_o apostle_n themselves_o have_v save_v i_o a_o labour_n as_o peter_n the_o 1.5.1_o the_o elder_n which_o be_v among_o you_o i_o exhort_v who_o be_o also_o a_o elder_a etc._n etc._n john_n in_o his_o 2._o and_o 3._o epistle_n style_v himself_o and_o elder_a in_o the_o second_o thus_o the_o elder_a unto_o the_o elect_a lady_n in_o the_o three_o the_o elder_a unto_o the_o well-beloved_a gain_n and_o we_o may_v read_v act_n 6.6_o because_o the_o word_n of_o god_n shall_v not_o be_v leave_v and_o the_o people_n to_o serve_v table_n wherefore_o the_o apostle_n desire_v the_o people_n to_o look_v out_o among_o themselves_o 7_o man_n of_o honest_a report_n full_a of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o of_o wisdom_n who_o they_o admit_v into_o holy_a order_n by_o pray_v and_o lay_v on_o of_o hand_n 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he_o pray_v over_o he_o anoint_v he_o with_o oil_n in_o the_o name_n of_o the_o lord_n the_o word_n elder_a be_v there_o translate_v presbyter_n which_o be_v of_o the_o same_o signification_n with_o we_o as_o sacerdos_n be_v under_o the_o law_n there_o be_v many_o more_o place_n of_o scripture_n to_o prove_v spiritual_a elder_n in_o the_o church_n but_o i_o will_v brief_o shut_v up_o this_o point_n with_o the_o 20_o of_o the_o act_n where_o it_o appear_v how_o paul_n at_o melitum_fw-la call_v the_o elder_n from_o ephesus_n verse_n the_o 27._o and_o tell_v they_o that_o they_o must_v see_v his_o face_n no_o more_o he_o charge_v they_o verse_n the_o 28._o that_o they_o shall_v take_v heed_n unto_o themselves_o and_o to_o all_o the_o flock_n over_o which_o the_o holy_a ghost_n have_v make_v they_o bishop_n to_o feed_v the_o church_n of_o god_n by_o all_o which_o and_o other_o text_n of_o scripture_n it_o be_v evident_a that_o the_o word_n elder_a general_o in_o the_o new_a testament_n 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find_v it_o record_v in_o the_o 10_o of_o deut._n verse_n 8._o god_n separate_v the_o tribe_n of_o levi_n to_o bear_v the_o ark_n of_o the_o covenant_n of_o the_o lord_n and_o to_o stand_v before_o the_o lord_n to_o minister_v unto_o he_o and_o to_o bless_v in_o his_o name_n even_o to_o this_o day_n and_o deut._n 11._o and_o the_o 5._o the_o lord_n thy_o god_n have_v choose_v he_o out_o of_o all_o thy_o tribe_n to_o stand_v and_o minister_v in_o the_o name_n of_o the_o lord_n him_z and_o his_o son_n for_o ever_o and_o moses_n in_o the_o 33_o of_o deut._n verse_n 8._o prey_n that_o the_o urim_n and_o thummim_v of_o the_o lord_n be_v with_o thy_o holy_a one_o mean_v in_o that_o place_n one_o of_o the_o tribe_n of_o levi_n who_o verse_n the_o 10_o shall_v teach_v jacob_n thy_o judgement_n and_o israel_n thy_o law_n they_o shall_v put_v insense_n before_o thy_o face_n and_o burn_v offering_n upon_o thy_o altar_n it_o be_v manifest_a by_o those_o place_n of_o scripture_n that_o it_o be_v god_n holy_a will_n that_o the_o tribe_n of_o levi_n shall_v serve_v at_o his_o altar_n all_o of_o they_o be_v instate_v in_o holy_a order_n by_o imposition_n of_o hand_n and_o although_o among_o they_o there_o be_v certain_a degree_n according_a to_o which_o paul_n write_v in_o the_o 1_o to_o tim._n 3.13_o that_o they_o that_o have_v minister_v well_o get_v themselves_o a_o good_a degree_n as_o godwyn_n in_o his_o jewish_a antiquity_n fol._n 22_o observe_n as_o when_o they_o have_v be_v a_o month_n initiate_v they_o be_v to_o be_v present_v unto_o god_n numb_a 3.15_o and_o they_o be_v consecrate_v by_o imposition_n of_o hand_n at_o 25_o year_n old_a num._n 8.24_o and_o they_o be_v to_o carry_v the_o tabernacle_n up_o &_o down_o from_o 30_o to_o 50_o and_o afterward_o they_o be_v to_o oversee_v and_o
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
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