12. Others place the rule of particular churches, especially in cases of greatest moment, in an association, conjunction, or combination of all the elders of them in one society; which is commonly called a classis. So in all acts of rule there will be a conjunct acting of many elders. And no doubt it is the best provision that can be made, on a supposition of the continuance of the present parochial distribution. But those also of this judgment who have most weighed and considered the nature of these things, do assert the necessity of many elders in every particular church ; which is the common judgment and practice of the reformed churches in all places.
13. And some there are who begin to maintain that there is no need of any more but one pastor, bishop, or elder in a particular church, which hath its rule in itself, other elders for rule being un- necessary. This is a novel opinion, contradictory to the sense and practice of the chui^ch in all ages; and I shall prove the contrary.
(1.) The pattern of the first churches constituted by the apostles, which it is our duty to imitate and follow as our rule, constantly ex- presseth and declares that many elders were appointed by them in every chui-ch. Acts xi. SO, xiv. 23, xv. 2, 4, 6, 22, xvi. 4, xx. 17, etc.; 1 Tim. V. ] 7; Phil. i. 1; Tit. i. 5; 1 Pet. v. 1. There is no mention in the Scripture, no mention in antiquity, of any church wherein there were not more elders than one; nor doth that church answer the original pattern where it is otherwise.
(2.) Where there is but one elder in a church, there cannot be an eldership or presbytery, as there cannot be a senate where there is but one senator ; which is contrary unto 1 Tim. iv. 14.
(3.) The continuation of every church in its original state and constitution is, since the ceasing of extraordinary offices and powers, committed to the care and power of the church itself. Hereunto the calling and ordaining of ordinary officers, pastors, rulers, elders, teachers, do belong; and therein, as we have proved, both the elec- tion of the people, submitting themselves unto them in the Lord, and the solemn setting of them apart by imposition of hands, do concur. But if there be but one elder only in a church, upon his death or removal, this imposition of hands must either be left unto the people, or be supplied by elders of other churches, or be wiiolly
VOL. XVL 8
114< TRUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
omitted; all wliich are ii-regular: and tliat cliurch-order is defective ■which wants the symbol of authoritative ordination.
(4.) It is difficult, if not impossible, on a supposition of one elder only in a church, to preserve the rule of the church from being pre- latical ox popular. There is nothing more frequently objected unto those who dissent from diocesan bishops, than that they would every one be bishops in their own parishes and unto their own people. All such pretences are excluded on our principles, of the liberty of the people, of the necessity of many elders in the same church in an equality of power, and the communion of other churches in associa- tion; but practically, where there is but one elder, one of the ex- tremes can hardly be avoided. If he rule by himself, without the previous advice, in some cases, as well as the subsequent consent of the church, it hath an eye of unwarrantable prelacy in it. If every thing be to be originally transacted, disposed, ordered by the whole society, the authority of the elder will quickly be insignificant, and he will be little more, in point of rule, than any other brother of the society. But all these inconveniencies are prevented by the fixing of many elders in each church, which may maintain the authority of the presbytery, and free the church from the despotical rule of any Diotrephes. But in case there be but one in any church, unless he have wisdom to maintain the authority of the eldership in his own person and actings, there is no rule, but confusion,
(5.) The nature of the work whereunto they are called requires that, in every church consisting of any considerable number of mem- bers, there should be more elders than one (when God first ap- pointed rule in the church under the old testament, he assigned unto every ten persons or families a distinct ruler, Deut. i. 15); for the elders are to take care of the walk or conversation of all the mem- bers of the church, that it be according unto the rule of the gospel. This rule is eminent, as unto the holiness that it requires, above all other rules of moral conversation whatever; and there is, in all the members of the church, great accuracy and circumspection required in their walking after it and according unto it. The order also and decency which is required in all church-assemblies stands in need of exact care and inspection. That all these things can be attended uuto and discharged in a due manner in any church, by one elder, is for them only to suppose who know nothing of them. And al- though there may be an appearance for a season of all these things in such churches, yet, there being not therein a due compliance with the wisdom and institution of Christ, they have no present beauty, nor will be of any long continuance.