2. Nor doth it make the People Rulers of their Rulers, or Judges of their Judges, ⟨p. 137⟩when we say, that the Church hath a power over them, in case of Delinquency. For Excommunication is not an act of the highest Rule, or Authority, but of the highest Judgment; and therefore the Power of it may well be in the whole Church, as their Privilege, without any intrenchment upon the Rule and Authority of Elders, wherein, as Officers, they are above the Brethren, whilst they act according to Rule: But, if they become Delinquents, then as Members, they are under the Power of the whole. The Church must submit to them, as Rulers, whilst they rightly exercise the Authority of their Office, in Preaching, Administering the Seals, holding forth light from Scripture to guide them in censure, ordering Speech and Silence according to Rules of Order and Edification, and in other Official Acts: But they must submit to the Church, questioning, or proceeding to censure them with good advice of Neighbour-Churches and Elders; (who as they concurred in giving them the right hand of fellowship in their Ordination, so they should concur in approving this Censure, as justly inflicted by the Church, from parity of reason.) The Mayor in a free City, or Corporation, is, in the right Administration ⟨p. 138⟩of his Office, above the Court, none but he can perform the Acts peculiar to his place; yet, if he corrupt the People, pervert Justice, or be, any way, grossly and scandalously delinquent, the Court can censure and dispose him. For the whole hath Power over any Member, to preserve its purity, and peace, and safety against any in the Body, that would corrupt, disturb or destroy the same. And the Covenant binds every Member, to be subject to the Power of the whole, either to be reformed, or removed from communion of it thereby.
2. Nor doth it make the People Rulers of their Rulers, or Judges of their Judges, ⟨p. 137⟩when we say, that the Church hath a power over them, in case of Delinquency. For Excommunication is not an act of the highest Rule, or Authority, but of the highest Judgment; and therefore the Power of it may well be in the whole Church, as their Priviledge, without any intrenchment upon the Rule and Authority of Elders, wherein, as Officers, they are above the Brethren, whilst they act according to Rule: But, if they become Delinquents, then as Members, they are under the Power of the whole. The Church must submit to them, as Rulers, whil'st they rightly exercise the Authority of their Office, in Preaching, Administring the Seals, holding forth light from Scripture to guide them in censure, ordering Speech and Silence according to Rules of Order and Edification, and in other Official Acts: But they must submit to the Church, questioning, or proceeding to censure them with good advice of Neighbour-Churches and Elders; (who as they concurred in giving them the right hand of fellowship in their Ordination, so they should concur in approving this Censure, as justly inflicted by the Church, from parity of reason.) The Mayor in a free City, or Corporation, is, in the right Administration ⟨p. 138⟩of his Office, above the Court, none but he can perform the Acts peculiar to his place; yet, if he corrupt the People, pervert Justice, or be, any way, grosly and scandalously delinquent, the Court can censure and despose him. For the whole hath Power over any Member, to preserve its purity, and peace, and safety against any in the Body, that would corrupt, disturb or destroy the same. And the Covenant binds every Member, to be subject to the Power of the whole, either to be reformed, or removed from communion of it thereby.
