These elders are first mentioned Acts xi. 30, where tliey are spoken of as those which were well known, and had now been of some time in the church. Afterward they are still mentioned in conjunc- tion with the apostles, and in distinction from the church itself, Acts XV. 2, 4, 6, 22, xvi. 4, xxi. 18. Now, the apostles themselves were teaching elders, — that is, such as had the work of teaching and rule committed to them, 1 Pet. v. 1 ; 2 John 1, — and these elders are constantly distinguished from them; which makes it evident that they were not teaching elders : and therefore, in all the mention that is made of them, the work of teaching or preaching is nowhere ascribed unto them, which, at Jerusalem, the ajoostles reserved to themselves, Acts vi. 2-4 ; but they are everywhere introduced as joining with the apostles in the rule of the church, and that in distinction from the church itself, or the bretliren of it. Yea, it is altogether improbable that whilst the apostles were at Jerusalem, giving themselves wholly unto the word and prayer, they should appoint in the same church many more teaching elders, though it is plain that the elders intended were many.
I shall add, for a close of all, that there is no sort of churches in being but are of this persuasion, that there ought to be rulers in the church that are not in " sacred orders," as some call them, or have no interest in the pastoral or ministerial office, as unto the dispensation
VOL. XVI. i)
ISO TRUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
of the word and administration of the sacraments; for as the govern- ment of the Roman church is in the hands of such persons in a great measure, so in the church of England much of the rule of it is managed by chancellors, officials, commissaries, and the like officers, who are absolutely laymen, and not at all in their holy orders. Some would place the rule of the church in the civil magistrate, who is the only ruling elder, as they suppose. But the generality of all Protestant churches throughout the world, both Lutheran and Ee- forraed, do, both in their judgment and practice, assert the necessity of the ruling elders which we plead for; and their office lies at the foundation of all their order and discipline, which they cannot forego without extreme confusion, yea, without the ruin of their churches. And although some among us, considering particular churches only as small societies, may think there is no need of any such office or officers for ride in them, yet when such churches consist of some thousands, without any opportunity of distributing themselves into several congregations, as at Charenton in France, it is a weak ima- gination that the rule of Christ can be observed in them by two or three ministers alone. Hence, in the primitive times, we have in- stances often, twenty, yea, forty elders, in a particular church ; wherein they had respect unto the institution under the old testament, whereby each ten families were to have a peculiar ruler. However, it is certain that there is such a reformation in all sorts of churches, that there ought to be some attending unto rule that are not called to labour in the word and doctrine.
CHAPTER VIII.
The nature of church polity or rule, with the duty of elders.
Having declared who are the rulers of the church, something must be added concerning the rule itself which is to be exercised therein. Hereof I have treated before in general; that which I now design is what in particular respects them who are called unto rule only, whereunto some considerations must be premised : —
1. There is power, authority, and rule, granted unto and residing in some persons of the church, and not in the body of the fraternity or community of the people. How far the government of the church may be denominated democratical from the necessary consent of the people unto the principal acts of it in its exercise, I shall not deter- mine; but whereas this consent, and the liberty of it, are absolutely necessary, according to the law of obedience unto Christ, which is prescribed unto the church, requiring that all they do in compliance therewith be voluntary, as unto the manner of its exercise, being in
CHURCH POLITY OR RULE, WITH THE DUTY OF ELDERS. 131
dutiful compliance with the guidance of the rule, it changeth not the state of the government. And therefore, where any tiling is acted and disposed in the church by suffrage, or the plurality of voices, the vote of the fraternity is not determining and authorita- tive, but only declarative of consent and obedience. It is so in all acts of rule where the church is organical or in complete order.
2. That there is such an authority and rule instituted by Christ in his church is not liable unto dispute. Where there are " bishops, pastors, elders, guides, rulers, stewards," instituted, given, granted, called, ordained; and some to be ruled, "sheep, lambs, brethren," obliged by command to " obey them, follow them, submit unto them in the Lord, regard them as over them," — there is rule and autho- rity in some persons, and that committed unto them by Jesus Christ; but all these things are frequently repeated in the Scripture. And when, in the practical part or exercise of rule, due respect is not had unto their authority, there is nothing but confusion and disorder. When the peojDle judge that the power of the keys is committed unto them as such only, and in them doth the right of their use and exercise reside; that their elders have no interest in the disposing of church-afifiairs or in acts of church-power, but only their own suf- frages, or what they can obtain by reasoning; and think there is no duty incumbent on them to acquiesce in their authority in any thing (an evil apt to grow in churches), — it overthrows all that beau- tiful order which Jesus Christ hath ordained. And if any shall take advantage of this complaint, that where the people have their due liberty granted unto them, they are apt to aftsiwie that poiuer unto themselves which belongs not unto them, an evil attended with troublesome impertinencies and disorder, tending unto anarchy, let them remember, on the other hand, how, upon the confinement of power and authority unto the guides, bishops, or rulers of the church, they have changed the nature of church-power, and enlarged their usurpation, until the whole rule of the church issued in absolute tyranny. Wherefore, no fear of consequents that may ensue and arise from the darkness, ignorance, weakness, lusts, corruptions, or secular interests of men, ought to entice us unto the least altera- tion of the rule by any prudential provisions of our own.