Discipline Which Christ Hath Prescribed for the Government of His Church, Chapter 5
CHAP. 5.
NOne is to be admitted vntounto any publike office in the Church vntill he be thorowly examined by the eldership, both concerning his state of Christianitie, & abilitie to that place where to he is to be called, T. C. 1. book: page 38. Disci. Ecclesiast fol. 46: They thinke one may do it, as appeareth by the book of ordering, &c. VVhitgist page 134. & 135. and their slight passing it ouer, thorow the Archdeacons hands.
The former is prooued, and the latter disprooued thus.
1 Those that are to ordayne, must hauehave particular knowledge of the parties to bee ordayned, (or else they breake the rule prescribed them, 1. Tim. 5. 22) which cannot be without examination: But the Eldership is to ordayneeuerye Churche officer, as shall appeare in the Chap. of Ordination: Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership to examine, &c.
2 The matter of greatest importance in the gouernement of the Churche, must be done by the most able gouernours of the same: The approouing or disproouing of Churche officers, is the matter of greatest importance, because the consequence of ruling well is the best, or ill the worst: and the Eldership is the Senate of most able gouernours in the Church, as shall appear in the Chap. of Eldership: Therefore the Eldership is to examine, &c.
3 The way whereby a mans insufficiencie is best espyed, and his abilitie discerned, is the fittest to examine them that are to be admitted: But by the eldership (consisting of diuers) his insufficiencie is best espyed, and his abilitie best discerned, for the common prouerbe telleth vsus that many eyes do see more then one: Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership, &c.
4 They are to examine Church officers, that are least subiect to be blinded with partiallitie: But the Eldership is least subiect to partiallitie, both for that they be many, who are not so easily ouer ruled by affection or fauour, as one, as also (and that especially) for that it being the Lords owne ordinance (as shall appeare) we are to perswade our selues, that his spirit shal guyde them: Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership, &c.
5 The way that was vsed in the Apostles time in examining, is of vsus to be folowed, vnles some reason out of the word to perswade the conscience, can be alleadged to the contrary, which none hauehave euer yet done: But many vsed in the Apostles time to examine, as appereth in chosing out one to be in the place of Iudas, Act. 1. 22. 23. and fit men for Deacons, Act. 6, 5. wherof the gouernours especially were some, for that they were to ordayn vponupon knowledge, as is said in the first reason: Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership. &c.
6 They whose testimony the people may best credit, are to examine them that are to be admitted: But the people may best credite the iudgement of a company of able and sufficient men, which the Eldershipp rightly established must needes be: Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership. &c.
7 Examination belongeth vntounto them which may most perswade the people of his sufficiency, & so procure gretest reuerence vntounto him in his place: But the examination by the Eldership is such: Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership, &c.
Therefore if they that are to ordain, must examine:The Conclusion if it be a matter of grerest waight in the gouernment of the Churche, & they the most able to dispatch it; if by them his sufficiency or insufficiency be best found out; if they be hardliest carried away with affection or parciallitie; if the examination was suche in the Apostles time; if the people may (in reason) giuegive most credit to the examination that is by such; if that kinde of examination perswade the people best of his sufficiencie, and procure him greatest reuerence in his place: then must it needs folow, that it pertaineth to the Eldership to examine those that are to bee admitted to any office in the Church.
There is nothing obiected against this, that hath any shew of reason in it, and therfore it were needles to set any thing downe.