The True Form of Church Government, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
EVery congregation ought to have Elders to see into the manners of the people, and to be assistant unto the ministers, in the government Ecclesiasticall. T. C. book 1. pag. 174. Disc. fol. 120. which they denie, Whitg…ft p. 627. And their practise in keeping them out of the Church: but it is proved to be true, by these reasons following.
1. That which the Apostles established in every congregation, ought still to continue, seeing the Church must be 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 every congregation, Act▪ 14.23. Which cannot be understood of preaching Elders onelyonly; considering that the scarcity of them was such, as Paul was constrained to send Timothy and Titus to great cities, which he could hardly spare, as he often testifieth: Therefore ther… ought to be such Elders, as are onelyonly to assist in government i… every congregation.
2. Those which God hath ordained to help forward the building of the Church, ought to be in every congregation, unlesse it may appeare that some congregation needeth not so much helpe, as Christ hath appointed: But Christ hath ordeined Elders in the Church, for the helping forward of the building of the Church 1 Cor. 12.28. Therefore such Elders ought to be in every congregation.
3. That which being wanting, the body cannot be entire, that same must be in every congregation: But the Elders cannot be wanting, and the Church be an entire body Rom. 12.8. Which every congregation should be, Rom. 12, 4. Therefore there ought to be such Elders in every congregation.
5. If the word of God doe describe such Elders in the Church, then ought they to be in every congregation, which is cleare by this, that every congregation hath need of them, as well as any: and that every congregation must have all the other officers of the Church: and that every congregation is of equall dignity in the body of Christ: but the word of God describeth unto us such Elders. 1. Tim. 5.17. Therefore they ought to be in every congregation.
5. There is no Church,Ignat. ad Trail. that can stand without her Eldership or councell.
6. It belongeth onelyonly to the Bishop to baptize,Tertul. de Baptist. and the Elder and Deacon may not do it, but upon the Bishops licence.
7. Neither Elder nor Deacon have right,Ierome contra Lucif. but upon the Bishops commandement (so much as) to baptize.
8. Elders fell away thorough the ambition of the teachers.Ambros. upon 1 Tim. 5. Possidonius in vita Augusti…i
9. Valerius the Bishop did contrary to the custome of the Apostolicall Churches, in appointing Augustine to preach, being but an Elder.
10. After that Arrius was convicted of haeresie,Socrat. libr. 5. cap. 22. it was decreed that Elders should no more preach.
11. The number of the Elders of every Church,Bucer de regno Christs 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 upon Rom. 1…. he lamenteth, that it is so fallen out of the Church, that the name doth scarce remaine.
13. Certaine of the people were joyned with the pastour,The same upon 1. Cor. 12. in the governement of the Church, because the pastour was not able to doe all himselfe.
14. There were Elders, that did assist the Minister,Calvin Institu… lib 4. cap. 3. in the government of the Church. &c.sect. 8.
15. Whitgift confesseth, that in the Primitive Church, they had in every Church certaine Seniors, pag. 638. Let it then appeare out of the word, to satisfie the conscience, how it may be left out.
16. If the platforme set downe to Timothy and Tit…s 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 end of the world, 1 Tim. 6.14. Therefore they ought to be in every congregation.
17. That which is contained in every minsters commission to teach and practize, must be in every congregation: but the ordination and practize of that office, is in every Ministers commission, Mat. 28.20. Or else they ordained Elders without warrant from Christ, which none dare affirme: therefore there must be Elders in every congregation.
18. Wheresoever a bishop must be, there must also the Elder bee, which appeareth by this, that where the one is described, there is the other also: but a Bishop must be in every congregation, as I have proved sufficiently in the 10. Chap. Therefore there ought to be Elders in every congregation.
19. If the Apostles laboured for uniformitie in the least things, and established in all Churches one order, then must there be Elders in every congregation, for they were in some, as all men doe 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 every congregation there must be such Elders.
Therefore if the Apostles established Elders in every congregation;The conclusi…n▪ if Christ hath esteemed their helpe needfull to further the building of his Church; if without them a congregation cannot be entire; if the word of God say that they ought to be in the Church; if it was continued so long after the Apostles time: and be approved by the testimony of many very learned, both old and new writers, and confessed by the greatest adversary unto them; if they be within the compasse of every Ministers commission; if they are to be, wheresoever a Bishop must be; if the Apostles established uniformity, even in the meanest thinges; then must it needs follow, that there ought to be such Elders in every congregation, as are to assist the Minister in the government of the same.
They confesse it was so in the Apostles time, but seeme to say somewhat that it cannot be under a Christian magistrate thus:
1. Object. God hath given the Soveraigne authoritie over his Church to the Christian magistrate, which these Elders would abridge.
Answ. No more then the eldership abridged the soveraigntie of David over Israel, for his governement is temporall, and theirs spirituall.
2. Object. Gualter upon the 1 Cor. 5. denieth it to be needfull under a Christian Magistrate.
Answer. Gualter denieth excommunication under a Christian Magistrate, hee is as partiall in this argument at Whitgift.
3. Objection. The Prince hath the authority that the Elders had.
Answ. That is no truer, then to say the Prince hath authority to preach the word, &c. for these be things, that his high authority must see done, but he may doe none of them himselfe.
But there bee many reasons which may bee alleadged,Reasons prooving Elde…s as necessary under a Christian Magistrate, as in the Apostles time. to prove that they are (at the least) as necessary under 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 waies of godlinesse, the more neede they have of the assistance that God hath allowed them in his word: But Ministers are now lesse able (especially under Christian Magistrates, when men are overtaken with ease and peace, which quench go…d things) then they were in the time of the Apostles: Therefore there is as great (if not greater) neede of Elders now, then was in the time of the Apstoles.
2. If Christian Magistrates bee to maintaine the order that Christ hath set downe for the governement of his Church, then must there be Elders in it under a Christian Magestrate, for Elders are appointed of 1 Cor. 12.8. But Christian Magestrates are to maintaine the order that Christ hath set downe for the ruling of his Church, Isai. 49.23. Therefore there must be Elders in the Church, under a Christian Magestrate.
3. If the rule of Christ cannot bee perpetually observed, tell the Church, unlesse there be Elders; then must there bee such under a Christian Magestrate: But the former is true, for by the Church is there meant the Seanate of Ministers and Elders, as shall be proved in the chapter of Excommunication: Therfore there must be Elders, under a Christian Magistrate.
4. If the whole governement of the Church described in the Epistles to Timothie and Titus, bee to bee observed untill the end, then must there bee Elders under Christian Magestrates, for they are contained in those Epistles: but the former is true 1 Tim. 6.14. Therefore there must be Elders under a Christian Magistrate.
5. Where sinners ate more outragious, and the best most subject to waxe cold, there is greatest neede of all the helpes that God hath ordained to punish sinne, and to cherish well doing: But so it is under a Christian Magistrate especially in the peace of the Church, as Whitgift confesseth, pag. 643. Therefote there is (at the least) as great neede of Elders (seeing they are helpers uppointed of God) under a Christian Magistrate, as at any other time.
The conclusion.Therefore if Mininisters be lesse able now, then in the Apostles time; if Christian Majestrates must maintaine the order prescribed by Christ; if else the rule of Christ, (till the Chru…ch) cannot be still observed; if the whole goverment described by Saint Paul, must be kept for ever; lastly if there bee, (at the least) as great neede of all the helpes that can be, as ever there was: then must it needes follow, that Elders are as necessary in the Church under a Christian Magestrate, as in the time of persecution.