pattern of a presbytery,
as well as their meeting together when they took in the consent of the
people, Acts vi., in the choice of the deacons, to be a pattern or
warrant that the people have a power in the choice of their officers?
(as those of contrary judgment argue:) if one be taken in as an
inimitable practice, why not the other?

3. If the apostles joining with elders, acted nothing as elders, then we
can bring nothing of theirs into imitation; and by this we should cut
the sinews, and raze the foundation of church government, as if there
were no footsteps thereof in the holy Scriptures.

POSITION III.

Finally, That the pattern of the said presbytery and presbyterial
government is for a rule to the churches of Christ in all after ages,
may appear as followeth:

1. The first churches were immediately planted and governed by Christ's
own apostles and disciples; 1. Who immediately received the keys of the
kingdom of heaven from Christ himself in person, Matt. xvi. 19, and
xviii. 17,18; John xx. 21, 23. 2. Who immediately had the promise of
Christ's perpetual presence with them in their ministry, Matt, xxviii.
18-20; and of the plentiful donation of the Spirit of Christ to lead
them into all truth, John xiv. 16, and xvi. 13-15; Acts i. 4, 5, 8 3.
Who immediately received from Christ, after his resurrection and before
his ascension, "commandments by the Holy Ghost,"--"Christ being seen of
them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of
God," Acts i. 2, 3; and, 4. Who were first and immediately _baptized by
the Holy Ghost_, extraordinarily, Acts ii. 1-5. Now, who can imagine
that the apostles and disciples were not actuated by the Spirit of
Christ bestowed upon them? or did not discharge Christ's commandments,
touching his kingdom imposed upon them? or did not duly use those keys
of Christ's kingdom committed to them in the ordering and governing of
the primitive churches? And if so, then the pattern of their practices
must be a rule for all the succeeding churches, 1 Cor. xi. 1; Phil, iv.
9.

2. To what end hath the Holy Ghost so carefully recorded a pattern of
the state and government of the primitive churches in the first and
purest times, but for the imitation of successive churches in after
times? "For whatsoever things wore written aforetime, were written for
our learning," or instruction. But what do such records instruct us?
Only _in fact_, that such things were done by the fir