A Vindication of the Presbyteriall-Government and Ministry

by Ministers and Elders of the London Provinciall Assembly

The 3. Particular.

That the power of examining those that desire to be admitted to the Lords Supper, belongs not to the Minister alone, nor to the Minister with the whole Church, but to the Minister & Ruling Elders.

1. Not to the Minister alone. Indeed there is an examination, which belongs only to the teaching-Elder, and that is [88]a catechizing of his people in publique, by questions and answers; and this is part of the key of doctrine.

But the examination that we are now treating of, belongs to Discipline and Government; for it is not only a naked examination, but an authoritative determining whether the party examined shall be detained from the Sacrament, or admitted; which is formally an act of Church-Government, and therefore belongs not to the Minister alone, but to all those whom Christ hath made Church-Governours, also: of which sort are the Ruling-Elders, as hath been sufficiently proved. The power of Discipline is given |Non uni, sed unitati.|by Christ, not to one Elder, but to the united company of Elders: and for one Minister alone to assume this power unto himself, it is to make himself the Church; it is to make himself a Congregational Pope; it is a bringing in of a Power into the Church, that would have some resemblance (as was objected) to auricular confession.

Now there are two things we are very confident of;

1. That when the Parliament gave their allowance to the Presbyterial Government, if they had put the whole juridical power of the Church into the hands of the Minister alone, they that now seem so willing to come to be examined by the Minister without his Elders, would have more bitterly declaimed against that way, then now they do against this: For this indeed were to make every Minister a Prelate in his Congregation; and (as we now said) to bring in that which hath some resemblance to auricular confession.

2. That it is as warrantable by the Word of God, for one Minister to assume the whole power unto himself alone, of suspending persons from the Sacrament, who have been duly admitted thereunto (which is a graduall excommunication) as it is to assume the whole power of admitting unto the Sacrament; for contrariorum eadem est ratio. And oh that our Brethren in the Ministry, that take this power unto themselves, would seriously consider what is here said.

Secondly, the power cannot be placed in the whole Church collectively taken; for then it should be also in children and servants. The Scripture makes an exact distinction between Rulers, and Ruled; and we are very well assured, that if this power were seated in the Minister and whole Congregation, that they that are now so unwilling to come before the Minister and Elders, would be much more unwilling to come before the Minister, and whole Congregation. And therefore we conclude, That this power of examining, and receiving unto the Sacrament such are fit, and detaining such as are found to be grosly ignorant, and visibly wicked must needs belong to the Minister, assisted with the Elders, chosen out from amongst the rest of the Congregation: For if the Elders are Rulers, and Governours, seated by God in his Church, (as hath been abundantly proved) then it will undeniably follow, That whatsoever is properly an act of Government, must belong to them as well as the Minister. And who can deny, but that the power of admitting unto, or detaining from the Sacrament, is an act of Government? and therefore it doth by divine right belong to the Elders, as well as to the Minister. But yet here we must carefully distinguish between the act of examination, and the judgment given upon the person examined. The managing of the Examination, is the proper act of the teaching Elder; It is he that is to pray for a blessing; It is he, that is for order sake to ask the questions. But as for the determining, whether the party examined be fit or no to receive, this is an act of power and government, and belongs not to the Minister alone, but to the Eldership. And it is a very great wonder unto us, that people should profess so much dis-satisfaction and dislike, in coming before the Ruling-Elders whereas they cannot but take notice,

1. That the Elders are such, as they themselves have, or might have chosen.

2. They are chosen for the relief and benefit of the Congregation. That so the Minister might not be sole judge of those that are to come to the Sacrament, but might have others joyned with him, to see that he doth nothing out of envy, malice, pride, or partiality, but that all things be managed for the good and edification of them, for whose sake they are chosen: which two particulars, if our people did seriously consider, they would quickly be perswaded to a hearty and an unanimous submission unto this ordinance of Jesus Christ.