ed judgments; and how plainly do they delineate in
the word, a pattern of one presbyterial government in common over divers
single congregations within one church!

_Except_. The apostles' power over many congregations was founded upon
their power over all churches; and so cannot be a pattern for the power
of elders over many.

_Ans_. 1. The apostles' power over many congregations as one church, to
govern them all as one church jointly and in common, was not founded
upon their power over all churches, but upon the union of those
congregations into one church; which union lays a foundation for the
power of elders governing many congregations.

2. Besides, the apostles, though extraordinary officers, are called
elders, 1 Pet. v. 1, to intimate to us, that in ordinary acts of church
government, they did act as elders for a pattern to us in like
administrations.

_Except_. The apostles, it is true, were elders virtually, that is,
their apostleship contained all offices in it, but they were not elders
formally.

_Ans_. 1. If by formally be meant, that they were not elders really,
then it is false; for the Scripture saith Peter was an elder, 1 Peter v.
1. If by formally be meant that they were not elders only, that is
granted; they were so elders, as they were still apostles, and so
apostles as they were yet elders: their eldership did not exclude their
apostleship, nor their apostleship swallow up their eldership.

2. Besides, two distinct offices may be formally in one and the same
person; as Melchisedec was formally a king and priest, and David
formally a king and prophet; and why then might not Peter or John, or
any of the twelve, be formally apostles and elders? And ministers are
formally pastors and ruling elders.

_Except_. 'Tis true, the apostles acted together with elders, because
it so fell out they met together; but that they should meet jointly to
give a pattern for an eldership, is not easy to prove; one apostle might
have done that alone, which all here did.

_Ans_. 1. 'Tis true, the apostles as apostles had power to act singly
what they did jointly; yet, when they acted jointly, their acts might
have more authority in the Church: upon which ground they of Antioch may
be conceived to have sent to the whole college of apostles and elders at
Jerusalem, (rather than to any one singly;) why was this, but to add
more authority to their acts and determinations?

2. Why should not their meeting together be a