bind the confcience, in virtue of their own authority i and that all their decifions fhould be founded upon the revealed will of God. Now though it will eafily be admitted, that all fynods and councils may err, through the frailty infeparable from humanity; yet there is much greater danger, from the ufurped claim of making laws, than from the right of judging upon laws already made, and common to all who profefs the gofpel; although this right, as neceffity requires in the prefent ftate, be lodged with fallible

men.

VIII. Laftly, That, if the preceding fcriptural and rational principles be fedfaftly adhered to, the vigor and ftrictness of its difcipline will contribute to the glory and happiness of any church. Since ecclefi aftical difcipline must be purely moral or spiritual in its object, and not attended with any civil effects, it can derive no force whatever, but from its own justice, the approbation of an impartial public, and the countenance and bleffing of the great Head of the church univerfal

THE

FORM

OF

GOVERNMENT.

Sect. I.

J

CHA P. I.

Of the Church.

ESUS CHRIST, who is now exalted, far above all principality, and power", hath erected, in this world, a kingdom, which is his church.

Sec. II. The univerfal church confifts of all those persons, in every nation, together with

I. a Eph. 1. 20, 21. When he raifed him from the dead, and fet him at his own right hand in heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but alfo in that which is to come. Pfal. 68. 18. Thon haft afcended on high, thou haft led captivity captive, thou haft received gifts for men: yea, for the rebellious alfo, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

b. Pfal. 2. 6. Yet have I fet

my king upon my holy hill of Zion. Dan. 7. 14. There was given him dominion and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages fhould ferve him; his dominion is an everlafting dominion which fhall not pafs away, and his kingdom that which fhall not be deftroyed. Eph. t. 22, 23. And put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

their children, who make profeffion of the holy religion of Chrift, and of fubmiflion to his laws..

Sect. III. As this immenfe multitude cannot meet together, in one place, to hold communion, or to worship God, it is reasonable, and warranted by fcripture example, that they should be divided into many particular churches".

Sect. IV. A particular church consists of a number of profeffing Christians, with their offfpring, voluntarily affociated together, for divine worship and godly living, agreeably to the holy fcriptures; and submitting to a certain form of government.

II. c Rev. 5. 9.--And haft redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Acts 2. 39. For the promife is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God fhall call. 1 Cor. 1. 2. compared with 2 Cor. 9. 13.

III. d Gal. 1. 21, 22. Af. terwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; and was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea, which were in Chrift. Rev. 1. 4, 20. John to the leven churches which are in Afia; Grace be unto you, and peace from him which is, and which was, and which is to come, and from the feven spirits which are before his throne.The mystery of the feven ftars which thou fawest in my right hand, and the feven golden

candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the feven chur. ches; and the feven candlefticks which thou faweft are the feven churches. See alfo Rev.

2. 1.

IV. c Acts 2. 41, 47.—Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the fame day there were added unto them about three thousand fouls.-Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily fuch as fhould be faved. 1 Cor. 7. 14. For the unhelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbeliev ing wife is fanctified by the hufband; elfe were your children unclean, but now are they holy. Acts 2. 39. Mark 10. 14. compared with Matt. 19. 13, 14. and Luke 18. 15, 16.

f Heb. 8. 5. Who serve unto the example and shadow

CHA P. II.

Of the Officers of the Church.

Ο

UR bleffed Lord, at first, collected his church, out of different nations, and Extraordina- formed it into one body, by the ry officers. miffion of men endued with miraculous gifts, which have, long fince, ceafed.

The ordinary and perpetual officers, in the Perpetual church, are, Bishops or Paftors"; the reOfficers. prefentatives of the people, ufually tiled Ruling Elders, and Deacons.

of heavenly things, as Mofes was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for Se (faith he) I that thou make all things according to the pattern fhewed to thee in the mount. Gal. 6. 16. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Ifrael of God.

1. a Pfal. 2. 8. Afk of me, and I fhall give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermoft parts of the earth for thy poffeffion. Rev. 7. 9. After this I beheld, and lo a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues ftood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.

takers of that one bread. See alfo, Eph. 4. 16. Col. 1. 98

c Matt. 10. 1, 7, 8. And when he had called unto him his twelve difciples, he gave them power against unclean fpirits, to caft them out, and to heal all manner of fickness, and all manner of disease.

d1 Tim. 3. I, 2.-If a man defire the office of a bishop, he defireth a good work. Eph. 4. 11. And he gave fome, apof tles: and fome, prophets: and fome, evangelifts; and fome, paftors and teachers; ver. 12. For the perfecting of the faints, for the work of the miniftry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

e1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the elders that rule well, be count. ed worthy of double honour.

f Phil. 1. 1. To all the faints b 1 Cor. IO. 17. For we in Chrift Tefus, which are at

being many are one bread, and one body for we are all par

Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

T

CHA P. III.

Of Bishops or Pastors.

HE paftoral office is the first, in the church, both for dignity and usefulness. The perNames, &c. fon ruho fills this office, hath, in fcrip ture, obtained different names expreffive of his various duties. As he has the overfight of the flock of Chrift, he is termed bifhop*. As he feeds them with fpiritual food, he is termed paftore. As he ferves Chrift in his church, he is termed minister". As it is his duty to be grave and prudent, and an example of the flock, and to govern well in the house and kingdom of Christ, he is termed prefbyter or elder". As he

1. a Rom. 11. 13.

b Acts 20. 29. Take heed therefore unto yourfelves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghoft hath made you overfeers. (bifhops) to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

e Jer. 3 15. And I will give you paftors according to mine heart, which fhall feed you with knowledge and under ftanding. 1 Pet. 52, 3, 4.

d 1 Cor. 4. I. Let a man

fo account of us, as of the minifters of Chrift, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Cor. 3. 6. Who also hath made us able minifters of the New Teftament.

e 1 Pet. 5. 1. The elders which are among you, I exhort, who am alfo an elder, and a witnefs of the fufferings of Chrift, and alfo a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. See alfo Tit. I. 5- 1 Tim. 5. I, 17, 19.

As the office and character of the gospel minifter is particu larly and fully defcribed, in the holy fcriptures, under the title, of bifhop; and as this term is peculiarly expreffive of his duty as an overfeer of the flock, it ought not to be rejected.