Discipline Which Christ Hath Prescribed for the Government of His Church, Chapter 12
CHAP. 12.
EVery congregation ought to hauehave Elders to see into the maners of the people, and to be assistaunt vntounto the ministers, in the gouernment Ecclesiastical. T. C. book 1. pag. 174. Disc. fol. 120. which they denie, VVhitgift p. 627. & their practize in keeping them out of the Church: but it is prooued to be true, by these reasons following.
1 That which the Apostles established in eueryevery congregation, ought still to continue, seeing the Churche must bee ruled by the same lawes that it was ruled by then, and needeth as great furtherance now, as it did then: But the Apostles established Elders in eueryevery congregation, Act 14 23. which cannot be vnderstood of preaching Elders onelyonly; considering that the scarcitie of them was suche, as Paule was constrayned to sende Timothie and Titus to great cities, which he could hardly spare, as he often testifieth: Therefore there ought to be suche Elders, as are onelyonly to assiste in gouerrment in eueryevery congregation.
2 Those which God hath ordayned to help forward the building of the Churche, ought to be in euerye congregation, vnlesse it may appeare that some congregation needeth not so much helpe as Christe hath appoynted: But Christ hath ordayned Elders in the Churche, for the helping forwarde of the building of the Churche. 1. Cor. 12. 28. Therefore suche Elders ought to be in eueryevery congregation.
3 That which being wanting, the bodie can not be entire, that same must be in eueryevery congregation: But the Elders cannot be wanting, and the Church be an entire bodie, Rom. 12. 8. which eueryevery congregation should be, Rom. 12. 4 Therefore there ought to be such Elders in eueryevery congregation.
4 If the word of God doe describe such Elders in the Church, then ought they to be in eueryevery congregation, which is cleare by this, that eueryevery congregation hath need of them, as well as any: and that eueryevery congregation must hauehave all the other officers of the Churche: and that eueryevery congregation is of equall dignitie in the bodie of Christ: But the worde of God describeth vntounto vsus such Elders. 1. Tim. 5. 17. Therfore they ought to be in eueryevery congregation.
5 There is no Church that can stand without hir Eldership or councell.Ignat. ad Trall.
6 It be longeth onelyonly to the bishopp to baptize,Tertul. de Baptist. and the Elder and Deacon may not do it, but vponupon the bishops licence.
7 Neither Elder nor deacon hauehave right,Ierome contra Lucif. but vponupon the bishops commandement (so much as) to baptize.
8 Elders fell away thorow the ambition of the teachers.Ambros. vponupon 1 Tim. 5.
9 Valerius the bishopp did contrary to the custome of the Apostolicall Churches,Possidonins in vita Augustini in appoynting Augustine to preache, being but an Elder.
10 After that Arrius was conuicted of haeresie,Socrat. libr. 5. cap. 22. it was decreed that elders should no more preach.
11 The number of the Elders of euerye Churche,Bucer de regno Christi book 1. ought to be encreased, according to the multitude of the people.
12 Speaking of the Elders that were to assist the minister,P. Martyr vponupon Rom. 12. he lamenteth that it is so fallen out of the church, that the name doth scarse remaine.
13 Certain of the people were ioyned with the pastor,The same vponupon 1. Cor. 12. in the gouernment of the Churche, because the pastor was not able to doe all himselfe.
14 There were elders … did assist the minister,Caluin Institut. lib. 4. cap. 3. sect. 8. in the gouernment of … Church. &c.
15 VVhitgift confesseth, that in the primitiue Church, they had in eueryevery Church certain Seniors, pag. 638. Let it then appeare out of the word, to satisfie the conscience how it may bee left out.
16 If the platforme set downe to Timothie and Titus be for all Churches, then must Elders be in all; for these Elders are there described: But it is a platforme for all Churches, and that to the ende of the world, 1. Tim. 6. 14. Therefore they ought to be in euerye congregation.
17 That which is contained in eueryevery ministers commission to teache & practize, must be in eueryevery congregation: but the ordination & practize of that office, is in eueryevery ministers cō mission, Matth. 28. 20. or els they ordayned Elders without warrant from Christ, which none dare affirme: Therefore there must be Elders in eueryevery congregation.
18 Wheresoeuer a bishoppe must be, there must also the Elders bee, whiche appeareth by this, that where the one is described, there is the other also: But a bishopp must be in eueryevery congregation, as I hauehave prooued sufficiently in the 10. Chap. Therefore there ought to be elders in eueryevery congregation.
19 If the Apostles laboured for vniformitie in the least things, and established in all Churches one order, then must there be Elders in eueryevery congregation, for they were in some, as al men do confesse: But the former is true, as not onelyonly the view of their practize declareth, but also the Apostles expresse words; Thus I teach in all Churches: Therefore the latter is true also, that in eueryevery congregation there must be such Elders.
Therfore,The Conclusion if the Apostles established Elders in eueryevery congregation; if Christe hath esteemed their helpe needfull to further the buylding of his Church; if without them a congregation cannot be entire; if the worde of God say that they ought to be in the Churche; if it was continued so long after the Apostles time: and be approoued by the testimonie of manie very learned, both olde and newe writers, and confessed by the greatest aduersary vntounto them; if they be within the compasse of euerye ministers commission; if they are to be, wheresoeuer a bishopp must be; if the Apostles established vniformitie, euen in the meanest thinges; then must it needs followe, that there ought to be such Elders in eueryevery congregation, as are to assiste the minister in the gouernement of the same.
They confesse it was so in the Apostles time, but seeme to say somewhat that it cannot be vnderunder a christian magistrate thus: 1 Obiection God hath giuen the soueraigne authoritie ouer his Church to the Christian magistrate, which these Elders would abridge.
Ansvver No more then the eldership abridged the soueraigntie of Dauid ouer Israell, for his gouernment is temporall, and theirs spirituall.
2 Obiection Gualter vponupon the 1. Cor. 5. denieth it to be needfull vnderunder a christian magistrate.
Ansvvere Gualter denieth excommunication vnderunder a christian magistrate, he is as partial in this argument as VVhitgift.
3 Obiection The prince hath the authority that the Elders had.
Ansvvere That is no truer, then to saye the prince hath authoritie to preach the word, &c. for these be thinges, that his high authoritie must see done, but he may doe none of them himselfe.Reasons proouing Elders as necessary vnderunder a christian magistrate, as in the Apostles time.
But there be many reasons which may bee alleadged, to prooue that they are (at the least) as necessary vnderunder a Christian magistrate in these dayes, as they were in the time of the Apostles, as namely these:
1 The lesse able that ministers are to direct their people in the wayes of godlines, the more neede they hauehave of the assistaunce that God hath allowed them in his word: But ministers are now lesse able (especially vnderunder Christian magistrats, when men are ouertaken with ease and peace, which quench good things) thē they were in the time of the Apostles: Therefore there is as great (if not greater) need of Elders now, then was in the time of the Apostles.
2 If christian magistrates be to maintayne the order that Christ hath set down for the gouernement of his Churche, then must there be Elders in it vnderunder a Christian magistrate, for Elders are approoued of Christ, 1. Cor. 12. 8. But Christian magistrates are to mayntaine the order that Christe hath set downe for the ruling of his Church, Isai. 49. 23. Therefore there must be Elders in the Church, vnderunder a christian magistrate.
3 If the rule of Christe cannot be perpetually obserued, tell the Church, vnlesse there be Elders; then must there be such vnderunder a christian magistrate: But the former is true, for by the Churche is there ment the Senate of ministers and Elders, as shall be prooued in the chapter of Excommunication: Therfore there must be Elders vnderunder a Christian magistrate.
4 If the whole gouernement of the Churche described in the Epistles to Timothie & Titus, be to bee obserued vntill the ende, then must there bee Elders vnderunder Christian magistrates, for they are contayned in those Epistles: But the former is true. 1. Tim. 6. 14. Therefore there must be Elders vnderunder a christian magistrate.
5 Where sinners are more outragious, and the best most subiect to wax cold, there is greatest neede of all the helpes that God hath ordayned to punish sinne, and to cherish well doing: But so it is vnderunder a christian magistrate, especially in the peace of the Church, as VVhitgift confesseth, page 643. Therefore there is (at the least) as great neede of Elders (seeing they are helpers appointed of God) vnderunder a Christian magistrate, as at any other time.
Therfore if ministers be lesse able now,The Conclusion then in the Apostles time; if Christian magistrates must maintaine the order prescribed by Christ; if els the rule of Christ, (tel the church) cannot be still obserued; if the whole gouernment described by S. Paule, must be kept for euer; lastly if there be, (at the least) as great neede of all the helpes that can be, as euer there was: then must it needs follow, that Elders are as necessary in the Churche vnderunder a christian magistrate, as in the time of persecution.