A Vindication of the Presbyteriall-Government and Ministry

by Ministers and Elders of the London Provinciall Assembly

3. If old men and rich men are more gracious and knowing, then others, their good examples will be mighty incouragements, to draw on the younger, and poorer sort. And wherein can Noblemen, and Richmen, express their thankfulness to God, for his distinguishing mercies towards them, better, then in becoming patterns and presidents to others, in their ready obedience to the will of Christ, in this particular?

Object. 4.

We are willing to come to the Minister alone, to be examined; But we will never come before the Ruling-Elders.

Answ. 1.

The Office of the Ruling Elders, as they are distinct from teaching Elders, is grounded upon Scripture; and is not an invention of man, but an Ordinance of Christ, (as we have shewed,) and therefore to be submitted unto.

2. Admission of members to the Sacrament, is an act of Church-Government, and therefore belongs to the Elders, as well as the Minister: (as we have likewise shewed.) Church-Government is not committed by Christ unto Ministers severally, but, to Ministers and Elders joyntly, Matth. 10.17. 1 Cor. 12.28. 1 Tim. 5.17. 1 Thess. 5.12. Act. 15.6. Act. 20.17, 28. And therefore in conscience, people ought to submit to the Ministers and Elders.

3. This is a Practice according to the example of the best reformed Churches, wherein Elders are joyned with Ministers in this particular.

4. To devolve this work upon one Minister alone, as it is sinful, so it will prove very prejudicial, both to Minister and People: For in some places Ministers may not be so faithful and Prudentiall as they ought to be, and may, through pride, covetousness, partiality, or rashness, keep from the Sacrament, or admit to the Sacrament, whom Christ would not have admitted, or kept away. And in other places, where Ministers are more wise, and humble, and faithfull, if they should assume the power of Examination, without Elders assisting of them, they will be wofully mis-reported and scandalized by those that come before them, or by others, that are disaffected to them; For if such horrid and base reports are already raised about the Questions propounded by the Minister and Elders, when they sit together; (as by sad experience these wicked dayes of ours will witnesse:) what will not ungodly men be afraid to report, when the Minister alone shall ingross this power?

5. We have formerly shewed, that these Elders whom you so much oppose, are such as you either have, or might have chosen; and they were chosen for the relief and benefit or the Congregation, that so the Minister might not be sole judge of those that 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 may be managed for the good and edification of those for whose sake they are chosen: And therefore it is a wonder to us, to hear men speak so much against Ruling-Elders, when they are purposely chosen for their own relief and benefit.

6. We have also formerly shewed, 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 one 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 to bring in that, which hath some Resemblance to Auricular confession.