11.Presbyterianism continued
Presbyterianism continued also under the Mosaic Law "As was before observed," explains Owen (XVII:167), "there are two parts of the law - the moral precepts of it, and the instituted worship appointed in it.... Themoral precepts of it are the same with those that were written in the heart of man by nature orthe law of his creation, which he transgressed in his first rebellion." Gen 1:26-28; Gen 2:15-17; Ecc 7:29;
Isa 24:5; Hos 6:7f; Rom 2:14f. See too the Westminster Confession of Faith 19:1-2, and also its identical reproduction in the 1558 Savoy Declaration 19:1-2.
Now it is very significant that Moses interacted with the Elders of the people of God especially at the time of the giving of the Ten Commandments. Remarks Owen (XVII:473f):
"Moses went up into the Mount of God [Exo 19:3].... Being ascended, God calls unto him...and teacheth him to prepare the people for the receiving of the law, chap. Exo 19:3-6."
Moses came and called for the Elders of the people. He then laid before their faces all the words which the Lord commanded him. Exo 19:7; Exo 20:1-20.
Provision was made for restitution, in respect of certain crimes, to be made just "as the Judges determine.... Both parties shall come before the Judges.... Whom the Judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour." Exo 21:22fcf. 22:9. So Moses took seventy of the Elders alias the Nobles of Israel half-way up Mount Sinai.
He built an altar and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel for the National Church in the Old Testament; and he looked upon the paved work of sapphire stone under the feet of Israel’s God. Exo 24:4-9fcf.Num 11:16-25 & Acts 7:38.
Owen observes (XVII:504f) that "for the families...of the fathers there were...’the Elders’ who presided over them. These Moses and Aaron gathered together.... And these, as I said before, being the Rulers of the first families, were probably in number seventy from when afterwards was the constitution of seventy Elders for rule. Exo 24:1....
"There were Officers who attended the service of the whole people as to the execution of justice and order.... They are afterwards distinguished from the Elders and the Judges, Deut. xvi.18.... After these things, by God’s appointment, was constituted the Great Court of the Sanhedrin" alias the "Session of the Highest Board of Elders."