I. First, Of the church of Jerusalem, which consisted oi

more congregations than one, and all these congregations were under one presbyterial government.
This appeareth thus :
First, The church of Jerusalem consisted of more con- gregations than one, as is manifest :
Ist, By the multitude of believers mentioned in divers \ both before the dispersion of the believers there, by means of the persecution " ; and also after the dispersion ^\
they determined that Paul and Bar- nabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. Ver. 4. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and eldJjrs ; and they declared all things that God had done with them, Ver. G. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
t Rom. xii. 7. Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering ; or he that teacheth, on teaching ; Ver. 8. Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation : he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity ; he that ruleth, with dili- gence ; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 1 Cor. xii. 28. And God hath set some in the church ; first, apostles ; secondarily, prophets ; rjiirdly, teachers ; after that miracles; then gifts of healings, helps, go\rern- ments, diversities of tongues.
" Acts viii. 1. And Saul was con- senting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Je^
h.
rusatem ; and they Were all scatterec abroad throughout the regions Judea and Samaria, except i apostles. Acts i. 15. And in thosi days Peter stood up in the midst o the disciples, and said, (the numbe' of the names together were abou an hundred and twenty.) Actsii. 41 Then they that gladly received h word were baptized : and the sam day there were added unto the; about three thousand souls. Ver. 4t And they continuing daily with on accord in the temple, aiid breakin bread from house to house, did ea their meat with gladness and singU nefis of heart, Ver. 47. Praising Go and having favour with all the pec pie. And the Lord added to tk church daily such as should be save( Acts iv. 4. Howbeit, many of thei which heard the word believed ; an the number of the men was aboi five thousand. Acts v. 14. And b lievers were the more added uni the Lord, multitudes both of mt and women. Acts vi. 1. And those days, when the number the disciples was multiplied, the aro
The Form of Church-Govennncnt.
bro
2dlv, By the many apostles and other preachers in the ihurch of Jerusalem. And if there were but one congre- 'ation there, then each apostle preached but seldom "" ; i'hich will not consist with Acts vi. 2.
odlij^ The diversity of languages among the believers, iicntioned both in the second and sixth chapters of the Vets, doth argue more congregations than one in that ;hurc!j.
Secondly, All those congregations were under one presby- erial government ; because, Is/, They were one churcir^.
2dlt/, The elders of (he church are mentioned ^.
5%, The
ifosc a murmuring of the Grecians igainst the Hebrews, because their f/idows were neglected in the daily linistration. Ver. 7. And the word if God increased ; and the number of he disciples multiplied in Jerusalem ! reatly ; and a great company of the riests were obedient to the faith.
"'Acts ix. 31. Then had the chur- :he« rest throughout all Judea, and :JaIilee, and Samaria, and were edi- ied ; and, walking in the fear of the ^ord, and in the comfort of the Holy !}host, were multiplied. Acts xiL 24. Jut the word of God grew and muU iplied. Acts xxi. 20. And when they ieard it, they glorified the Lord, and aid unto him, Thou seest, brother, itjw many thousands of Jews there ire which believe, and they are all lealous of the law.
Acts vi. 2. Then the twelve call- ■ti the multitude of the disciples un- 0 them, and said, It is not reason hat we should leave the word of 5od, and serve tables.
y Acts viii. 1. And Saul was con- enting unto his death. And at that ime there was a great persecution igamst the church which was at Je- nisulem ; and they were all scattered ibroad throughout the regions of J udea md Samaria, except the apostles.
Acts 11. 47. Praising God, and hav- ing favour with all tke people : and the Lord added unto the church daily such as should be saved. Con:jijred ivith Acts V. 1 1. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. Acts xi^ 5. Peter therefore was kept in prison : but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. Acts XV. 4. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were recei- ved of the church, and of the 3postle>s and elders; and they declared all things that Ood had done with them. ^ Actsxi. 30. Which ^so they did, and sent it to the ciders by the hands of fiarnabas and Saul. Acts xv. 4. And when they were come to Jeru- salem, they were received of the church, and of the apo>tlf5 and elder?; and they decLired all things that God had Wone with them. Ver. 6. And the apostles and elders came toge- ther to consider, of this matter. Ver. 22. Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas; iiamely, Judas sur- named Barsaba*, and Silas, chief men among the brethren. Acts xxi. 17. And when we were com** B b 2 to
580 The Form of Church^GovcrnmcnL
3dlj/, The apostles did the ordinary acts of presbyters, :; presbyters in that kirk ; which proveth a presbyterial chur^ before the dispersion, Acts vi.
4//i/?/, The several congregations in Jerusalem being o. church, the elders of that church are mentioned as meetii together for acts of government '^ ; which proves that th( several congregations were under one presbyterial govej ment.
And whether these congregations were fixed or not fix ed, in regard of officers or members, it is also one as t( the truth of the proposition.
Nor doth there appear any material difference betwixi the several congregations in Jerusalem, and the many con gregations now in the ordinary condition of the church, ai to the point of fixedness required of officers or members.
Thirdly, Therefore the scripture doth hold forth, thai many congregations may be under one presbyterial govern ment.
11. Secondly, by the instance of the church of Ephesus; for
First, That there were more congregations than one in th( church of Ephesus, appears by Acts xx. 31 .^, where is mentioi of Paul's continuance at Ephesus in preaching for the spac( of three years ; and Acts xix. 18, 19, 20. where the specia effect of the word is mentioned^ ; and ver. 10. and 17. of thi
sam
to Jerusalem, the brethren received church, to send chosen men of thei
us gladly. Ver. 18. And the day own company to Antioch, with Pai
following Paul went in with us tinto and Barnabas; namely, Judas sui
James; and all the elders were pre- named Barsabas, and Silas, chief me
sent. among the brethren. Acts xxi. l",
^ Acts xi. 30. Wkich also they did, And when we were come to Jerusc
..nd sent it to the elders by the hands lem, the brethren received us gladl
.{ Barnabas and Saul. Acts xv. 4, Ver. 18. And the day followin
\nd when they were come to Jeru- Paul went in with us unto James
L-ulem, they jyere received of the and all the elders were present. A.
church, and of the apostles and el- soforivdrd.
dersj and they declared all things b Acts xx. SI. Therefore watcl
that God had done with them. Vef. and remember that, by the space
6\ And the apostles and elders came three years, I ceased not to war
together for to consider of this mat- every one night and day with teara
ten Ver. 22. Then it pleased the ^ Acts xix. 18. And many thj
apostlies and elders, with the whole believed came, and confessed, an
shewe
The Form of Church-Govirnmoit .
5S1
ame chapter, where is a distinction of Jews and Greeks'*; nd 1 Cor. xvi. 8, 9. where is a reason of PauPs stay at Ephe-
us until Pentecost
ind ver. 19. wlierc is mention of a
larticuhir church in the houseof Aquila andPris'ciUa, then at "iphesus \ as appears, Acts xviii. 19, "^ t, 2(3 ^ All which laid ogether, doth prove that the multitudes of believers did jnake more congregations than one in the church of Epiiesus.
Stcondly^ That there were many ciders over these many congregations, as one flock, appeareth'*.
7'A«Vr//(/,That th.ese many congregations were one church, md that tlicv wvw nuder ono j)rcs])vlorial government, ap- )eareth .
Of
hewed their tkcds, \'tr. \J. Muny ilso of them which used curious arts wrought their books toj^ethcr, and turned them befoic all men : and
^hoy counted the price of them, and ound it fifty thousand pieces of silver. /cr. 20. So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed.
'' Acts xix. 10. And this continued by the space of two years ; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. Ver. 17. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Kphesus ; and fear fell on them all, .-xnd the name of the Lord Jesus was magni- fied.
•' ' 1 Cor. xvi. 8. But I will tarry at
esus until Pentecost. Ver. t).
a great door and effectual is
d unto me, and there are many
versaries,
1 Cor. xvi. 19. The churches
Asia salute you. Aquila and
;lla salute you much in the
:, with the church that is in
house.
\cts xviii. 19. And he came to
us, and left them there; but he
If entered into the synagogue,
easoned with the Jew?. Ver. 24.
And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. Ver. 2G. And he began to speak boldly in tht: synagogue : whom when Aquilu and Piiscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the vtay of God more per- fectly.
h Acts XX. 17. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. Ver. '23. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preachinjj the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Ver. 28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghoit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purcliascd with his owji blood. Ver, :\0. .Nlso of your own selves shall n-icn arise, spealcing perverse things, to draw away disciples aCter them. Ver. 'Mi. And, when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. Ver. 37. And they all wept sore, and fell ou Paul's neck, and kissed him.
iRev. iu 1. Unto the angel of
the church of Ephesus write ; These
B. b v" things
682
The Form of Chirch-Gournmait.
Of Sy nodical Assemblies.
n^'HE scripture doth hold out another sort of assemblies •*- for the government of the church, beside classical and congregational, all which we call Si/nodical^.
Pastors and teachers, and other church-governors, (as also other fit persons, when it shall be deemed expedient,) are members q^' those assemblies which we call SynodicaJ., where they have a lawful calling thereunto.
Sy nodical assemblies may lawfully be of several sorts, as provincial, national, and oecumenical.
It is lawful, and agreeable to the word of God, that there be a subordination of congregational, classical, provincial, and national assemblies, for the government of the church.
Of Ordination of Ministers.
'NDER the head of Ordination of Ministers is to be considered, either the doctrine of ordination, or the power of it.
U
things salth he that holdcth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks ; Ver. 2. I know thy works, and tliy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil : and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars. Ver. 3. And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Ver. 4. Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Ver. 5. Re. member therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works ; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Ver. 6. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolai- tanes, which I also hate. Joined
Touching
ivhh Acts XX. 17, 28. [See in hU ter h.]
k Acts XV. 2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem un- to the apostles and elders about this question. Ver. 6. And the apostles and elders came together for to con- sider of this matter. Ver. 22. Then it pleased the apostles and elders, \n\h. the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas ; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the bre- thren : Ver. 23. And wrote letters by them after this manner : The apostles, and elders, and brethren, send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Anti- . och, and Syria, and Cilici».
Uohn
The Form of Church-Goicrnmoti.
583
Touching the Doctrine of Ordination.
vrO man ought to take upon him the office of a minister ■^^ of the word without a hiwful calHiig \
Ordination is always to be continued in the church '''.
Ordination is the solemn setting apart of a person to some publick church office ".
Every
' John iii. 27, John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, ex- cept it be given him from heaven. Rom. X. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not be- lieved ? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard ? and how shall they hear without a preacher ? Ver. 15. And how shall they preach except they be sent ? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of thciu that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things I Jtr. xiv. 14. Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name : I sent them not, neither have 1 commanded them, neither spake unto them : they prophesy unto you a false vision, and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit wf their heart. Heb.