presbytery, and of the power thereof for church
government, may principally be evidenced, 1. By the light of nature. 2.
By the light of Scripture, which light of Scripture was followed by the
Church in the ages after the apostolical times.

I. The light of nature and right reason may discover to us (though more
dimly) the divine warrant of the greater presbyteries, and of their
power for the governing of the church. For,

1. There are many ecclesiastical matters which are of common concernment
to many single congregations, as trial of church officers, ordination
and deposition of ministers, dispensation of censures, judicial
determination of controversies, resolution in difficult cases of
conscience, ordering of things indifferent, &c.; here the rule holds
well, that which concerns many congregations, is not to be considered
and determined upon only by one, but those many concerned and interested
therein.

2. Single congregational elderships stand in need of all mutual help and
assistance one of another in the Lord, being, 1. Inwardly weak in
themselves; too prone to be turned out of the way, Heb. xii. 13, Gal. v.
15, and too feeble for divers great tasks: as examination and ordination
of ministers, &c., which weakness is healed by association with others
assisting them. 2. Outwardly opposed by many dangerous and subtle
adversaries: men as grievous wolves, &c., Acts xx. 28-30; 2 Pet. ii. 1;
Phil. iii. 2; 1 Tim. iv. 1-7; Eph. iv. 14; devils, 1 Pet. v. 8. In such
cases two are better than one: "Wo to them that are alone; if they fall,
who shall take them up?"

3. Such intricate cases may fall out as cannot be determined and settled
by the eldership of a single congregation. As for instance, some member
in the congregation may conceive himself so wronged by the eldership
thereof, that he cannot submit to their unjust sentence; shall he not in
such case have liberty of appeal from them? If not, then he is left
without a remedy, (which is the calamity of the Independent government.)
If he may, whether shall he appeal regularly but to an associated
presbytery? therefore there must be such a presbytery to appeal unto.
Again, there may be a controversy betwixt the whole congregation, and
their presbytery; yea, the presbytery itself may be equally divided
against itself; yea, one single congregation may have a great and
weighty contest with another sister congregation, (all single
congregations being equal in power and autho