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Show 34 The Footfltps of RuliNg £/ders. Chap. 2. .~------ from thefirfr' l'tiflitution: But there are no f(){)tllcps at aUofthofe 1\J</ing Eldm extant, in any Church, but thofe of Genevah, and luch as have followed their patteme. For thou~h fome tell us of Cbflt,h-1Vardou and- Vejlry men ir1 the PIJI·i{h Cb11rciJCJ of England, who affifr the Preachers in the g6vemingof the Church, yet tHere is a great difference between tbem and Ruling EitkrJ; For thefc: Churcb-TVardmJ and Vejlry men, arc appointed not for affifrance to the MinWers in governing the Church, but for other purpofea: As Clmrch-1VJrdmt for ~eeping the qh.urches tl9<Jk , an? laying it out upon neeeffary rcp:\tresof the place of Gods Worlhtp,{called the Church ) and the Vejlry being a company of the wifell: and richefr Parifhioners, that have been,· or a'rc to be Churc/J!;W.artknJ, are exercifed in auditing the accompt! of rhe ·Church•WardmJ and CoOeaorrfor tht p.10re. And though now and !then they arc taken up in admonifhing art unruly nelghbfl)ttr ~ - yet they doe it not by .Authoritit, as Rklm; but by Cbtijliill• dif:rlt~on and charitit. \. ' •HI. , . . ' 1 Anfw. Wee doe not fay, that Church-WartknJ and Veftry men; are the fame with &1ling E!dm; for though they ·are hoth chofe by the body of the Church, yet in-t!fle'choite,the lp<>~lifil:ationJof &tli•rg Efders arc not attended 'W; tior are they [o·ord~irlell!l!fther with the like holy Solemnitie, or invef!cd with.tlte fame mea.fure of JPiritu.JIJ powrr, nor allowed ~o conlimte fa•· lifo, as Ruling Eldm are, and ought 1!0 be; But yet luch as they be, wee may fee in them Come fi>Ot!leps and r.emnants~ ( l(nd·as it were RJ.der,j) of that ho.ly and anc~en£ -~·dlt1ance, :f'!'. much :as _is efca~·- o~~-of the rwnesof Annc?nC:JanApnf'ral£e:• For to lay n?~tlu!lg ot Cb.mcellors, Commi.JJ·v«J, and· Officullr, (who are mcere Lry Elderf -and yet ~dminilter Church-Govern:nenc, rfot in one Church ~nely, but m many fcu•·es of Churches, )what other thing foundeth the very name uf Church-War.Um, G:~ rrdt4tZi Eccleji.e but Church· ·fifurdi.zm,.oc Chrmh-RH!m lAnd what .js the co'mpany of Yeflrymell, b'Jt a kinde of a Co11jijlory ? Secor d!y, !hvugh by- the Sophiftry o'fSatan and of his Vicar (the man ofnn) a grc.lt part vfthiscare is transformed from orderingth~ fPiri!u~llbuJ_, uft!n Clmr'''' co take care of the body of !h: "!JterzaU ChKI•ch or Temple, yet wh .• t power of Government is 1el:li m. any Congregation (be; ides Preaching the Wor<l ) the Chllrch- Sea:. ~. Cb,.rcb-W.-rdem and Vejltry men doo affift the Minijlers in mana· ging the fame : they obferve all fcandalous diforders, that arc: found in any of the C~urch-Minillers or people, they admoni!h the offenders : And though they be over-rulers to prefent all difor~ rs to the C .• thedra/J Clmr.:~ ( and the Officers thereof) which of n~ht they !hould complame of (when the offenders are in~ corrigible) onely to their own Congregation, yet it is an ufuall thing fur the Bifhop, and his Oflicers, to returne fuch offenders (having firft paid them their fees) co the Millijl.r, and Cb,uch~ W :r.Unr, to make acknowledgement of their offences before thenl and to profeffe their amendment, of which alfo they mhll bring ~ Certificate under the k!it~ijler and Church-Wurtkm hands. Yea, ~of our knowledge) there be fome peculiarpriviledged Churches 111 England, exempted from the .Jurifdifrion of the Bijbop, and his Offi"ers, where the Cbrcrcb-Wt~rdent> and Mini jim either by themfelves, or with the confent of the Congregation: doe tranfafr all t~at Gov~mment, which in other Churches the Bifhop and his Of~ ficmdoe mvadeand ufurpe; as to admonifh offenders, to enjoyne acknowledgemcntoffcandalons offences, and to debarre fi·om the Sacramen_ts, &c.. And by this means they reprc!fe idlene!Te, dmnkenne! fe, fwearm~, Sabbath-breaking, and the like diforders with better_fuccefle the? other Townes can doe; who have th~ helpe of MaJor and Jufbces, but not fo much [pi ritual! power in tke Church: but by that power which is ll:ill left in fome Churches unto their Miniftm and Gu..,.di~nt, (or R.ulm) it may not obfcurely appear~, that anciently they did enjoy it amongft thcrnfelves,_ before one Church began to Lord it over another. O~J~a. T~e .other Objection which is made againft fulling Eldm !s, That It 1s a matter of perilous confequcnce to fet up 1\.,1- lm m the Church, and that by Authoritie from the Word of God, when ycnhe Word hath no where fet forth the limits and bounds of their Authoritie. Anfw. The word of God hath clearly enough limited the bounds of a R.t~ling Eldm Calling, and the worke of his Rule : Fo~.fince all Ecckji"jlic .. ll power, is the power of the k.rfeJ ; (not of th~ Sword, Man b. 16. 19.) And, the Kingdmnt ofCbrift.n not of thuwotld,.Joh. ~~-~~~~' It is'plain~, no .C:hurc~-Go~ernottrmay take up the puw1r J..tkifword, to Wit, CzwU ]1U'ijii1aloll, without F 2 ufurpa- .. ) |