[i] In many parts the wording of the Platform is almost identical with passages from the foremost ecclesiastical treatises of the period, and, naturally, since John Cotton, Richard Mather, and Ralph Partridge were each requested to draft a "Scriptural Model of Church Government." The Platform conformed most closely to that of Richard Mather. The draft by Ralph Partridge of Plymouth still exists. Obviously, the Separatist clergyman did not emphasize so strongly the rule of the eldership which New England church life in general had developed. Otherwise his plan did not differ essentially from that of Mather. [j] "Even now, after a lapse of more than two hundred years the Platform (notwithstanding its errors here and there in the application of proof texts, and its one great error in regard to the power of the civil magistrate in matters of religion) is the most authentic exposition of the Congregational church as given in the scriptures."--Leonard Bacon, in _Contributions to the Ecclesiastical History of Connecticut_, ed. of 1865, p. 15. [k] Cambridge Platform, chap. ii. [l] _Ibid._ chap. ii. [m] Cambridge Platform, chap. iii. [n] The definition of the rule of the elders, given by the Rev. Samuel Stone of Hartford, was "A speaking aristocracy in the face of a silent democracy." [o] Cambridge Platform, chaps, iv-x. [p] "We do believe that Christ hath ordained that there should be a Presbytery or Eldership and that in every Church, whose work is to teach and rule the Church by the Word and laws of Christ and unto whom so teaching and ruling, all the people ought to be obedient and submit themselves. And therefore a Government merely Popular or Democratieal... is far from the practice of these Churches and we believe far from the mind of Christ." However, the brethren should not be wholly excluded from its government or its liberty to choose its officers, admit members and censure offenders.--R. Mather, _Church Government and Church Covenant Discussed,_ pp. 47-50. "The Gospel alloweth no Church authority or rule (properly so called) to the Brethren but reserveth that wholly to the Elders; and yet preventeth tyrannee, and oligarchy, and exorbitancy of the Elders by the large and firm establishment of the liberties of the Brethren."--J. Cotton, _The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven,_ p. 12. "In regard to Christ, the head, the government of the Church, is sovereign and Monarchicall: In regard to the rule of the Presbytery, it is stewardly and Aristocraticall: In regard to the people's power in elections and censures, it is Democraticall."--_The Keys,_ p. 36; see also _Church-Government and Church Covenant,_ pp. 51-58. [q] Cambridge Platform, chap, x. [r] _Ibid._ chap. xiv. [s] Cambridge Platform, chap. ix. [t] _Ibid_. chap. ix. [u] _Ibid_. chap. xi. [v] _Ibid_. chap. xv. [w] Cambridge Platform, chap. xvi. [x] Cambridge Platform, chap. xvii.