A brief instruction in the worship of God, and discipline of the churches of…

Sundry things are to be considered about this discipline of the Church; as

First, The foundation of it, which is a grant of power and authority made unto it by Jesus Christ, as Mediator, Head, King, and Law-giver of his Church. For all discipline being an act of power, and this being exercised in and about things internal, and spiritual, no men can of themselves, or by grant of any others, have any right or authority ⟨p. 179⟩to, or in the exercise thereof. Whoever hath any interest herein, or right hereunto, it must be granted unto him from above, by Jesus Christ, and that as Mediator and head of his Church. For as all Church power, is in an especial manner by the authority and grant of the Father vested in him alone, Matth. 28.18. Ephes. 1.20, 21, 22, 23. So the nature of it which is spiritual, the object of it which are the Consciences and Gospel privileges of Believers, with the ends of it, namely the glory of God in Christ, with the spiritual and eternal good of the souls of men, do all manifest that it can have no other right nor foundation. This in the first place is to be fixed, that no authority can be exercised in the Church, but what is derived from Jesus Christ, as was spoken before.

First, The foundation of it, which is a grant of power and authority made unto it by Jesus Christ, as Mediator, Head, King, and Law-giver of his Church. For all discipline being an act of power, and this being exercised in and about things internal, and spiritual, no men can of themselves, or by grant of any others, have any right or authority ⟨p. 179⟩to, or in the exercise thereof. Whoever hath any interest herein, or right hereunto, it must be granted unto him from above, by Jesus Christ, and that as Mediator and head of his Church. For as all Church power, is in an especial manner by the authority and grant of the Father vested in him alone,