An enquiry into the original, nature, institution, power, order and communion of evangelical churches.…

1. The Church-State of the New Testament, doth not less relate unto, and receive force from the Light or Law of Nature, then any other State of the Church whatever. Herein as unto its general Nature, its foundation is laid. What that directs unto may receive new Enforcements by Revelation, but changed, or altered, or abolished, it cannot be. Wherefore there is no need of any new express Institution, of what is required, by that Light and Law in all Churches and Societies for the Worship of God, but only an Application of it unto present Occasions, and the present State of the Church, which hath been various. And it is merely from a spirit of Contention, that some call on us or others, to produce express Testimony or Institution; for every Circumstance in the Practice of Religious Duties in the Church; and on a supposed failure herein, to conclude, that they have Power themselves to Institute and Ordain such Ceremonies as they think meet, under a Pretence of their being Circumstances of Worship: For as the Directive Light of Nature, is sufficient to guide us in these things, so the obligation of the Church unto it, makes all stated Additions to be useless, as on other accounts they are noxious. Such things as these are the Times and Seasons of Church Assemblies, the Order and Decency wherein all things are to be transacted in them, the bounding of them as unto the number of their Members, and ⟨p. 15⟩places of Habitation, so as to answer the ends of their Institution; the multiplication of Churches when the number of Believers, exceeds the Proportion capable of Edification in such Societies; what especial Advantages are to be made use of, in the Order and Worship of the Church; such as are Methods in Preaching, Translations and Tunes of Psalms in singing, Continuance in public Duties, and the like, the things themselves being divinely instituted are capable of such general Directions in, and by the Light of Nature, as may with ordinary Christian Prudence, be on all occasions applied unto the Use and Practice of the Church. To forsake these Directions, and instead of them, to invent ways, modes, forms and ceremonies of our own, which the things whereunto they are applied, and made use of in, do no way call for, require or own; (as it is with all humanely invented, Stated Ceremonies;)

1. The Church-State of the New Testament, doth not less relate unto, and receive force from the Light or Law of Nature, then any other State of the Church whatever. Herein as unto its general Nature, its foundation is laid. What that directs unto may receive new Enforcements by Revelation, but changed, or altered, or abolished, it cannot be. Wherefore there is no need of any new express Institution, of what is required, by that Light and Law in all Churches and Societies for the Worship of God, but only an Application of it unto present Occasions, and the present State of the Church, which hath been various. And it is meerly from a spirit of Contention, that some call on us or others, to produce express Testimony or Institution; for every Circumstance in the Practice of Religious Duties in the Church; and on a supposed failure herein, to conclude, that they have Power themselves to Institute and Ordain such Ceremonies as they think meet, under a Pretence of their being Circumstances of Worship: For as the Directive Light of Nature, is sufficient to guide us in these things, so the obligation of the Church unto it, makes all stated Additions to be useless, as on other accounts they are noxious. Such things as these are the Times and Seasons of Church Assemblies, the Order and Decency wherein all things are to be transacted in them, the bounding of them as unto the number of their Members, and