Christs eternal existence, and the dignity of his person asserted and proved in opposition…

1. The first power that belongeth to a governing head, is Legislation or making Laws: now Christs Headship and Empire being novum jus Imperii, a new right which he hath as Mediator for the recovery of lapsed mankind, his Law is accordingly: It is lex remedians a Law of grace which is given us in the Gospel of our Salvation. The sum of his own proper remedial Laws are Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and ⟨p. 119⟩Repentance towards God, Acts 20.21. Without Repentance our case is not compassionable, without Faith we do not own our Redeemer, by whom we have so great a benefit: yet because this new right of Empire is accumulative not privative, beneficial to us indeed, but not destructive of our duty to God: therefore the whole Law of God as purely moral hath still a binding force, upon the consciences, as it is explained in the Word of God. Now to these Laws of Christ none can add, none diminish, and therefore Christ will take an account of our fidelity at the last day, 2 Thess. 1.8.

2. He hath instituted Ordinances, for the continual exercise and regulation of our worship, and the Government of his people that they may be kept in the due acknowledgement and obedience to him: such as the preaching of the Word, Sacraments, and the exercise of some Government: now all the Rules and Statutes which Christ hath made for the ordering of his people must be kept pure until his coming: his institutions do best preserve his honour in the World: great charges are left, 1 Tim. 5.21. I charge thee before God and our Lord Jesus Christ and his Elect Angels that thou observe these things, ⟨p. 120⟩where he speaketh of Ecclesiastical Censures and Disciplines he conjureth him by all that is sacred and holy, that it be rightly used;