if these family exercises be not conscientiously upheld?
If they be managed on the week days, how can all the people spare so
much time, as still to be present, when perhaps many of them have much
ado all the week long to provide food and raiment, and other necessaries
for their families? and "if any provide not for his own, and specially
for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than
an infidel," 1 Tim. v. 8. Let the case of the church of Arnheim[39]
witness the mischief and absurdity of this popular government once for
all.

4. Hereby, finally, the community of the faithful (being accounted the
proper subject of the power of the keys) have authority and power not
only to elect, but also to ordain their own officers, their pastors and
teachers. And this they of the independent judgment plainly confess in
these words:[40] Though the office of a pastor in general be immediately
from Christ, and the authority from him also, yet the application of
this office, and of this authority to this elect person, is by the
church; and therefore the church hath sufficient and just warrant, as to
elect and call a presbyter unto an office, so to ordain him to it by
imposition of hands. They that have power to elect a king, have power
also to depute some in their name to set the crown upon his head. But
for the whole church or community to ordain presbyters by imposition of
hands, is very absurd. For, 1. Their women and children, being members
of the church and of the community, may join in ordaining presbyters by
imposing of hands, and have as great an influence in appointing them
that shall actually impose hands, as the rest of the church members
have, being as properly members as they. 2. Then the community, that
generally are unable to judge of the fitness and sufficiency of
presbyters for the pastoral office, in point of necessary gifts of
learning, &c., shall, without judicious satisfaction herein by previous
examination, ordain men notwithstanding to the highest ordinary office
in the church. How ignorantly, how doubtfully, how irregularly, how
unwarrantably, let the reader judge. 3. Then the community of the
faithful may assume to themselves power to execute this ordinary act of
ordination of officers, without all precept of Christ or his apostles,
and without all warrant of the apostolical churches. But how absurd
these things be, each moderate capacity may conceive. Further
absurdities hereupon are dec