 A third group of divines were known as Erastians , a term for those who believed that the state should have significant power over the church . The entire Assembly was Erastian in the sense that the body had been called by Parliament and was completely under state control . Those labelled " Erastian " at the Assembly believed the civil authority , rather than church officers , should hold the power of church discipline . This included the power to withhold communion from unrepentant sinners . They did not see any particular form of church government as divinely mandated , and because of this the dissenting brethren allied with them when it became clear that a presbyterian establishment would be much less tolerant of congregationalism than Parliament . There were only two divines at the Assembly who held the Erastian view , John Lightfoot and Thomas Coleman , but the presence of members of Parliament , especially John Selden , as well as the fact of parliamentary oversight of the Assembly , gave Erastian views disproportional influence . 
 A third group of divines <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> known as Erastians , a term for those <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>who</mark></a>believed that the state should have significant power over the church . The entire Assembly was Erastian in the sense that the body <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> been called by Parliament and was completely under state control . Those labelled " Erastian " at the Assembly believed the civil authority , rather than church officers , should hold the power of church discipline . This included the power to withhold communion from unrepentant sinners . They did not see any particular form of church government as divinely mandated , and because of this the dissenting brethren allied with them when it became clear that a presbyterian establishment would be much less tolerant of congregationalism than Parliament . <a href='dey_it' title='4'><mark>There</mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> only two divines at the Assembly <a href='null_relcl' title='6'><mark>who</mark></a>held the Erastian view , John Lightfoot and Thomas Coleman , but the presence of members of Parliament , especially John Selden , as well as the fact of parliamentary oversight of the Assembly , gave Erastian views disproportional influence . 
A third group of divines was known as Erastians , a term fa those believed that the state should have significant power over da church . Tdaentire Assembly was Erastian in thdaense dat the body done been called by Parliament and was completely under state control . Those labelled " Erastian " at the Assembly believed thedavil authority , rather than church officers , should hold the daer of church discipline . This included the pdar to withhold communion from unrepentant sinners . They did not see any particular form of church government as divinely mandated , and because of this the dissenting brethren allied with em when it became clear that a presbyterian establishment would b much less tolerant of congregationalism than Parliament . It was only 2 divines at the Asdably held the Erastian view , John Lightfoot and Thomas Coleman , but the predace of members of Parliament , especially John Selden , as well as the fact of parliamentary oversight of the Assembly , gave Erastian views disproportional influence .