Apostle doth abundantly determine the moderatorship in his favours 3. If a Minister who is the Pastor and teacher of the whole flock do preside amongst the Elders of a secondarie order joined to him for his assistance will it therefore follow that one Minister should fixedly preside over many in the same order with himself and equally concerned in all the affaires of the meeting What Logick can knit together such inferences Having thus demonstrat from Scripture-prâ—cepts and practices and firme rational conclusions thence deducted the command of our parity with the warrantableness of our Courts and all their gradations I am very confident that we do thereby fully satisfie all the obligation to bring a clear command for these judicatories and their subordinations which our affirming them to be of unquestionable divine right institutions undoubtedly flowing â—rom the Kingdom of Iesus Christ in his Church and the only lawful government thereof do lay upon us As for what the author alledgeth against us that we do affirme them to be the very Kingdom of Christ upon Earth and the absoâ—utely necessary aswel as only lawful government of the Christian Church what ever tumor may appear in such expressions over and above the account I have given of the matter it is his own devising on purpose contrived that he may represent us as high talkers above the asserters of other forms and yet we not only know that the commenders of Episcopacie as the only true ancient Apostolick government of the Church do speak at as high a rate to say no more but that their acting in its behalfe doth indeed surpass all other measures I am certain will easily be by all acknowledged who consider how Presbyterie is the only butt against which their malice persecution is levelled and that into this malice all the zeal they ought to have against poperie profanity atheisme and irreligion seems to be converted which stirring activity may also in this same Author who being in his Ministrie rather a recluse monastick is for its sake become a very busie Prelate most obviously be instanced Now as by the grounds which I have adduced for our Presbyterian paritie the contrary repugnancy to Scripture rules of a fixed presidencie is sufficiently held out so I would gladly know from what shadow of probabilitie the Scripture agreeablenesse thereof is by our Author asserted For my part unlesse it be in the instance of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diotriphes I know not where the least vestige of it is to be found And therefore I say in the next place in opposition to the second point affirmed vizâ— the non-contrariety and agreeablenesse of this Episcopus praeses to the example of the primitive Church that though in the second and third Centuries of the Church this Prostasia could be more evidently discovered yet seeing the better pattern of the more pure and ancient times do hold out no such thing but an equal paritie among the Elders or Overseers Bishops of the Church of God levelled by humilitie and ordered by love and concord and that this Presidencie did in its tendencie and progresse become the rise not only of aspiring Prelacie but of the monstrous Papacy it is evident that it is a meer humane invention equally unwarrantable and dangerous And here I might show how little light we have even in the acknowledgment of some of our Adversaries from History or any other pure and credible Record of the Churches constitution in the Centuries mentioned and that the more near to the dayes of the Apostles and more uncorrupted any such testimony is found as that of Clemens and Ireneus for as for Ignatius Epistles even these of them that are of the best repute I am sure no impartial Reader who considers either the worth of the person or the simplicitie of the times or the stile suitable to both will judge them to be from such an Author the more they homologat with Scripture in the Synonomie of Bishop and Presbyter and the samenesse of the office thereby signified And I might also make it appear how that â—or all the alteration and advance made towards Prelacie in the succeeding Centuries yet the Fathers in these times chiefly Ierom did affirme the same truth of the Apostolick times and the Age immediatly succeeding But as I am too well perswaded that pride was the first and most subtile and active corruption that did invade the Church so I can very easily grant that a Protocathedria was thereby very early either occasioned or usurped and therefore omitting to insist how that partly by designe of the ambitious partly by mistake against the factious it seemeth to have been introduced I shall rather endeavour by a few observes so to discover the evill of its rise and its worse tendencies that in this above all all men may perceive the perinciousness of humane inventions how specious soever when superadded to Gospel truth and simplicitie And first I say that the alledgeance made for this prostasia as conducing much to order and the cure of divisioâ—s in so far as it respects its fixednesse is a vaine emptie pretense for seeing this fixednesse as such importeth no more then the suspending of the more certain change of an annual or other termly election unto that more uncerâ—ain one of term of life and that sometimes this latâ—er may notwithsâ—anding happen to be more frequent then the foâ—mer it is obvious to any mans calme and serious reflection that it is meerly to the presidencie and not at all to this controverted qualitie in itself considered that the advantages commended can be ascribed And therefore as it is certain that the concerne of order being once duely provided for by a sutable moderation the more obnoxious the person moderating is to the suffrage of the Society the lesse hazard of an ensuing abuse or usurpation So it is very evident that this superfluous fixedness importing a certain degree of exemption could only in the end prove a foment of pride and gratification of ambition as the event it self to plainly verifies of which if any man do yet doubt let him consider Romes Papacy that under this pretense fortified by Ierom's testimony Cuncti nempe Apostoli claves regni caelorum accipiunt tamen inter duodecem unus eligitur ut capite constiâ—uto schismatis tollatur occasio did not only arrogat to it self the Primacie but to this day doth thereby vail its Tyrrannie I grant that power is a soveraign antidot against contentions and divisions But if we measure it out by our own wisdom with a regard only to this exigence neither respecting the Lords warrant nor the sufficiencie of gifts and countenance of his blessing it is very manifest that this rule may quickly lead us to surmount the Papacie and its implicite faith and never suffer us to cease until by an absolute subjection both Truth Conscience be swallowed up of ignorance and stupidity Let us therefore above all things in the
more allow the Angels representing the Pastors then the Stars signifying the same thing nay or the Candlesticks the Churches to be taken for single persons But for further clearing of all these and like objections I referr the Reader to the many Authors by whom these things are more fully handled These grounds then being all undoubtedlâ— Scriptural with what confidence can it be demanded where doth the Scripture hold out a paritie among Ministers Or how can it be affirmed that the Episcopus Praeses contended for specially with his necessary presence in Ordination as we will afterwards hear is not contrary but agreeable to the word of God By all which it appears that as our Presbyterian paritie is plainly warranted both by general Gospel-rules and very expresse instances contained in Scripture So the apparent lawfulness of any other form of mans devising can be no justification thereof But it is objected If this ground be rejected how will we maintain or where will we finde an expresse command or rule for our own model of Kirk-sessions Presbyteries Syonds Provincial and National with a Commission of the Kirk in their several dependencies and subordinations and the changing of the moderator in these meetings excepting that only of the Kirk-sessions wherein the Minister doth constantly moderat for without this expresse Kule a Bishop or fixed President may very well consist with that frame which we contenâ— for And it is really and actually so at this present in this Church In answering this objection I must begin with its latter part which is so directly contradicted by the present constitution both in its legal establishment and known exercise as I have already proven that I marvel how it could escape any person of ordinary understanding As for the main thing objected having from the Scripture asserted the warrant of our parity its difficulty is easily satisfied for seeing that by Divine institution the Church is erected into one Society and officers in an equal parity for its oversight and Government thereto appointed And seeing that in every concession the things natural and proper to what is conceded must be understood to be therein imported the libertie and power of common counsel together with the subordination of the parts to the whole do thence necessarily result The premisses of which argument being so consistently composed of Scripture and reason thereon dependent I need not here enlarge in any explication Sure I am he who duely perpendeth these uncontrovertible Scripture-truths That the Church is gathered into one body that the Apostles together the Pastors and Elders together are incharged with its oversight and rule that the Spirit of the Prophets is subject unto the Prophets and that where two or three are gathered together in the Lords Name there he is in the midst of them It is impossible he should remain doubtful of the Divine warrant and authority of our meetings Conforme to which truths and principles we not only finde in the Acts of the Apostles the Church governed by common counsel but the same Meetings and Councels inspired and directed by that humilitie love and harmonie that no more then a chair man for the time no sixed moderator can therein be discerned If these grounds were not both solidly and evidently conclusive of all necessarie for me to prove I might easily without either worming or straining as our moderatists phrase it adduce and make out from Scripture precedents more exactly correspondent to our formes But seeing the right and Priviledge of common Counsel for Government in order both to the whole and certain of the partsâ— is by Scripture-practiâ—e obviously held forth its extension to all the parts and their â—ubordination to the whole doth so naturally and necessarily â—ollow thaâ— I judge it superfluous to engadge my self further into our adversaries scrupulous quiblings Now as for the Commission of the Kirk whereof Scripture warrant is also required seeing we do not hold it to be an ordinarie Church-judicatorie but do only regard it as a delegation from the preceeding National-assembly elicit by extraordinary exigences and precisely accountable to the next ensuing It s right is so certainly parallel to that of every Committee appointed by any meeting for dispatch that unlesse it were alledged that this power of commissionating is by Scripture inhibite it must of necessity be understood to be founded in the same warrant with the Assemblies from which it doth flow receive its conâ—irmation I contend not but our observance in practice might have had its own failings in this point but seeing the excesse in this matter if any was did probably flow from the mistake of a suppoâ—sed expediencie the evidence of its warrant and right use by such and error in fact cannot at all be impugned But the ministers their being constantly moderators in Kirk-sessions among the Elders joyned with them for Discipline is that wich our adversaries do urge as a great advantage for proving the lawfulness of the fixed Moderator in Presbyteries and Synods and our inconsequence in denying the same In the fond conceit of which argument it hath been and is so frequently by them inculcat that here is a Presbyter having a fixed presidencie among presbyters that I am sure it may â—ustly nauseat or move to laughter any indifferent observer To begin therefore with this childish emphasis taken from the terme Presbyter and the calling of the minister and parochial-elders both of them presbyters such indeed they are but seeing the scripture doth warrant the office of our Ruling Elder also attributeth several other names to Ministers agreeable to the main labour and to these Parochial Elders only that of Presbyters or Elders and yet on the other hand the classical Assemblies principally consisting of Ministers are commonly called Presbyteries If use for distinction hath appropriat to these Parochial-elders the name of Elders rather then that of Presbyters what folly is it to think that a contrary usurpation of names can be of any import or wherefore do not our adversaries if they have such a complaisance for these conceits tell us further what a qstrange thing it is to see a Presbyterie for so a Kirck-session may well be termed consisting only of one Minister and all the rest Laiks as they speak and withal reflect upon these more pungent retorsions nearer Home viz. that in their way a Bishop pretends to a-Superiority or presidencie over many Bishops and a single Presbyter must have the preheminence over his Fellow-presbyters But leaving these fopperies and taking words according to the determination of custome in such cases in answer to what is material in the objection I say 1. That where there are two Ministers in a parish they moderat in the Session by turnes 2 Where the Session doth consist of one Minister both a preaing and a ruling Elder and the other Elders of the Congregation who are but his helpers in discipline his different quality with the double honour allowed to him by the
thereof upon practice or upon the right or wrong management of affaires may be the better apprehended it would be considered that almost in every trust and employment let be in this which we treat of there are below that excess of malversation which can be charged and proven to be a fault to conclude a removel a great many inferior degrees of mal-administration which though by reason of their quality they do not amount to a just cause of rejection yet may nevertheless be of singular prâ—judice and just as a free election doth deliberat upon proper and improper so may these smaller transgressions very rationally require a charge without meriting deposition Whence it easily follows that beside the diminution of the Presbyteries power and priviledge this fixed Proestos doth also impose upon them an inconvenient restriction of their just liberty of change which in many cases may prove singularly prejudicial 4. I observe That as the fixed Praeses is constitute not by an arbitrary mandat but by a proper right resulting from the erection of the office in the manner that I have described so the office it self consisting in a priority of direction and conduct it certainly thereunto addeth a peculiar dignity I say the office consisting in a priority of direction for that there are subservient offices such as that of a Clark or Recorder which may be fixed and enjoyned by a proper right and have also the general esteem of praise worthy employments and yet do not intitle to any eminency is sufficiently explained and its difficultie removed out of my way by the simple proposal But the thing here remaâ—ked and wherein the difference of the Proestos and Presbyerian Moderator is further apparent is that the former hath by vertue of his right of presidencie a concomitant special honour above his Brethren which cannot be denied to him without a gross sâ—lecisme in prelatick hâ—rauldrie The temporary Moderator is indeed attended by an agreable respect but as he is vested with no proper right to the place wherein he simplie officiats by the Assemblies free nomination and as its instrument and mouth which during pleasure it chooseth for the more orderlie management of its affaires so the estimation and honor that accompanieth the employment is of no higher degree and equally transient whereas the fixed Praeses being rather set up to be a head for Governing the assembly and its actions must of necessitie on this account be adorned with a more high and permanent dignitie But it may be objected that it is an easie matter to represent the controverted Praeses in as diminishing characters and by saying that he simplie officiats at least enters unto the office by the free vote of the meeting and as its mouth and not its head by them thereto elected for time of life to resolve all the difference of the two and this eminencie of respect appropriat to the fixed unto the bare specialitie of the distinct period set to his continuance and no doubt words are easily turned but as it must be acknowledged that these things viz. for one to be set though by a free suffrage in a place formed and erected in an ordinarie office with its known special powers and priviledges and to posâ—ess by the right thence resulting and to be intrusted with the same employment but only by the way of a free and revocable mandat and commmission absolutly depending at the constituents pleasure are widely distant so particular distinguishing qualities of the Proestos in his proper right and power his exemption from an arbitrary removal and his more advanced dignity are thereby notablie declared And therefore seeing he doth injoy his place jure suo as Lawyers speak and doth not precariouslie hang â—or the continuance of its exercise upon the Presbyteries free and simple goodwil as our changeable Moderators do he cannot in this respect be said to be only an instrument for order dignified with no higher esteem but is in â—ffect by vertue of his right and the power thereto pertaining rendered the chief and head and accompanied with a peculiar honor inseparable from such a Superiority If it be further alledged that even in our own custome the Moderator once elected did alwayes continue out his couâ—se and that it is not so easie to give one instance of this arbitrary putting off here so much spoken of I shall not answer that his time bâ—ing short and not ad vitam there could scarce be any necessitie for making of such changes But the truth is the not making thereof is so far â—rom impugning that it much commends the differences by me explained for if the quality of the office as by us used the certain time thereto appointed and the Presbyteries reserve of an absolute control have been of that efficacie as even to prevent the occasions of exercising this laâ—t pâ—iviledge no doubt it is more concludent in our behalf then if the Presâ—yteries had made many removes It is not therefore as I said before the electing aâ—d desigâ—iâ—g for a câ—rtain space and a not altering observance that do signifie any thing in this affaire no but as the Presbyteries retaining of the absolut power over their Moderator is both their priviledge by the Lords appointment and also the great check of all abuses incident through his weakness or malice so it is the setting up of a Praeses over them with a power appertaining to him as his proper right during life and not committed to him by a revocable mandat that not only elevats the Episcopus Praeses to his distinguishing Superiority and Dignity but in effect contains the seminal cause of most of the evils that have thereon ensued Now from these things thus explained the differences of the fixed Praeses â—rom our Moderator appeare maniâ—estly to be 1. That the former imports an ordinary setled office including a proper right and power to the person thereto appointed whereas the later doth only imply a bare exercise wholly dependent upon the Presbyteries pleasure 2. That the setting up of the first doth derogat from the Presbyteries right by transferring it upon him whereas after the nomination of the second the Presbyteries right remaineth still entire and neither is nor can be impaired by the intrusting of a particular Member with its meer actual exercise 3. The fixed Praeses deprives the Presbytery of a great measure of their libertie he being exempted from their arbitrarie control and power of changing whereas our Moderator is altogether obnoxious to their determination 4. The fixed Praeses is created by a deed convoying a right whereas our Moderator is made by simple mandat imparting nothing save a precarious trust 5. Iâ— an allusion may adde light the Praeses is set up as it were to be Head whereas the Moderator is in a manner only appointed to be the Mouth of the meeting 6. The Praeses his right and power and Superioritie do necessarilie attribute unto him a special eminency of dignity whereas our Moderator