Part 1 — Chapter 4: The Second Argument Taken from Matt. 18:17

Our second argument we take from Matthew 18:17. Let an obstinate offender, whom no admonition does amend, be brought and judged by the Church. Where first of all, it is to be condescended upon, that though he speaks by allusion to the Jewish Church, as is evident by these words, Let him be to you as an heathen man and a Publican; yet he means of the Christian Church, when he says, Tell the Church, as may appear by the words following, Whatever you bind on earth, &c. which is meant of the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel (John 20:23), so that he did not send them to the Synedrium of the Jews, when he bade them tell the Church. Nor, 2. does he mean of the Church universal; for then we should have none of our wrongs redressed, because we cannot assemble the Church universal; no, nor the representative of it, which is an Oecumenical Council. Nor 3. can we understand it of the collective body, of a particular Church or Congregation; for he who is the God of order, not of confusion, has committed the exercise of no ecclesiastical jurisdiction to a promiscuous multitude. Nor 4. can it be taken of a Prelate, who being but one, can no more be called the Church, nor one can be called many, or a member be called a body. Non enim una persona potest dici Ecclesia, says Bell. de Eccles. l. 3. c. 17. Cum Ecclesia sit populus & regnum Dei. It is plain, that the Church there spoken of, is a certain number met together, Where two or three are gathered together, &c. Nor 5. can we with Erastus and Bilson expound it of the Christian Magistrate; which exposition, beside that in a newfangled language, it calls the Magistrate the Church, and goes about to overthrow all ecclesiastical jurisdiction. It is also utterly contrary to the purpose of Christ, and to the aim of that discipline which he recommends to be used, which is the good of our brother, and the gaining of him from his offence, whereas the exercise of civil jurisdiction of the Magistrate is not intended for the good of the offender, and for the winning of him to repentance; but for the public good of the Commonwealth, and for the preservation of peace, order, and justice, therein according to the laws. Therefore by the Church whereof our master speaks, we must needs understand such a representative meeting of the Church, wherein a scandalous and obstinate person may, and ought to be judged. And what is that? Collegium Presbyterorum, says Camero. The Presbytery whereof mention is made (1 Timothy 4:14). Tell the Church, that is, [in non-Latin alphabet], says Chrysostome, expounding the place: he means the Presbytery made up of Pastors and ruling Elders. And so Zanchius and Iunius expound him. The Pastors were [in non-Latin alphabet], because of their presiding in the Consistories of the Church. The ruling Elders were [in non-Latin alphabet], because of their ruling the flock. Whitgift says, Truth it is, that the place of Matthew may be understood of Seniors, but it may be as well understood of any other, that by the order of the Church, have authority in the Church. His confession in behalf of Seniors we accept, but that he makes this Scripture like a nose of wax, and the government of the Church like the French fashion, that we utterly abhor. But how is the Presbytery called the Church, and why? First, even as the body is said to see when as the eyes alone do see; so says Camero, the Church is said to hear that which they alone do hear, who are as the eyes of the Church. Secondly, it is a common form of speech to give the name of that which is represented to that which represents it. So we commonly say that this or that is done by the States of Holland, which is done by the Senate at Hague. Now though Bishops or Pastors alone cannot represent the Church, because hearers also belong to the definition of the Church; yet the Presbytery can well represent the Church, because it contains, beside those who labor in the word, ruling Elders put in authority by the Church for the government thereof, as Gerard rightly resolves. Our Divines prove against Papists that some of these whom they call Laics ought to have place in the Assemblies of the Church by this argument among the rest; because otherwise the whole Church could not be thereby represented. Thirdly, the Lord commanded that the children of Israel should lay their hands upon the Levites at their consecration, and that the whole congregation should be brought together for that effect. This, as some have observed out of Aben-Ezra, cannot be so understood as if the many thousands which were then in the Host of Israel had all laid their hands upon them, but the Elders of Israel only representing them. So the Lord says, speak to all the Congregation of Israel, &c. But the execution of this command is expressed thus, Then Moses called for all the Elders of Israel, and said to them &c. So (Joshua 20:6). Fourthly, Pastors and Elders, as they are the Ministers of Jesus Christ, so are they the Ministers and servants of his Spouse the Church. From that which has been said we may draw our argument in this form.

Whatever Courts do represent the Church, these are made up of ruling as well as teaching Elders.

But Presbyteries and all Assemblies of the Church are Courts which represent the Church. Ergo. The proposition is proved thus: Whatever Courts represent hearers as well as teachers, and the people as well as the Ministry, these are made up of ruling as well as teaching Elders.

But whatever Courts do represent the Church, these represent hearers as well as teachers, &c. It is plain enough that the Church cannot be represented except the hearers of the word, which are the far greatest part of the Church, be represented. By the Ministers of the word they cannot be represented more than the Burghs can be represented in Parliament by the Noblemen or by the Commissioners of Shires; therefore by some of their own kind must they be represented, that is by such as are hearers and not preachers. Now some hearers cannot represent all the rest, except they have a calling and commission thereto, and who can those be but ruling Elders?