intended only to commend the virtuous; and after he discommends them
indefinitely for "coming together not for better, but for worse," 1 Cor.
xi. 17; intending only their dispraise that were herein particularly
delinquent among them. Again, he speaks indefinitely, and as it were
collectively and generally, "Ye may all prophesy one by one," 1 Cor.
xiv. 31; but he intended it only to the prophets respectively, not to
all the members; for he saith elsewhere, "Are all prophets?" 1 Cor. xii.
29. And writing to the churches of Galatia, Gal. i. 2, against false
teachers he speaks thus to all those churches collectively, "A little
leaven leaveneth the whole lump," Gal. v. 9. And, "I would they were
even cut off who trouble you," ver. 12. Now every one of these churches
were to apply this to themselves respectively, Independents themselves
being judges. So here in this present case of the church of Corinth, the
apostle directs his commands to them, as it were collectively, about
putting away the incestuous person, which commands were particularly to
be put in execution by the presbytery in that church in whose hands the
church authority was.[101]

Thus taking these commands, 1 Cor. v. 4, 7, 13, though directed
indefinitely, and as it were collectively to the whole church, yet
intended respectively to be put in execution by the presbytery in that
church, they hold forth no concurrence of the people in any act of power
at all with the church officers or presbytery. And it is a good note
which Cameron[102] hath upon this place, "These things that are written
in this epistle are so to be taken of the presbytery and of the people,
that every one both of the presbyters and of the people, should
interpret the command according to the reason of his office." 3. When
the apostle reciteth the proceedings of the church in this very case of
the incestuous person, in his 2d epistle, he saith, "Sufficient to such
a man is this punishment" (or censure) "which was inflicted of many," 2