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

that is, by Ecclesiastical Courts, with Jurisdiction over all Persons or Congregations belonging unto them, it will not help their Cause. For (1) Those Particular Congregations wherein these things are to be observed, are Churches, or they are not. If they are Churches, they are of Christs Appointment, and we obtain what we aim at; nor is it in the Power of any man to deprive them of any thing that belongs unto them as such; if they are not, but Inventions and Appointments of their own, then that which they say is this; that what is absolutely necessary unto the due Observation of the Worship of God, and unto all the Ends of Churches, being not appointed by Christ, is by them provided for, appointed and ordained; which is to exalt themselves in Wisdom and Care above him, and to place themselves in a nearer Relation to the Church than he. To grant that many of those things which are the Ends for which any Church-State under the Gospel is appointed, cannot be performed or attained but in, and by particular Congregations, and yet to deny that those particular Congregations are of Christs Institution, is to speak contradictions, and at the same time to affirm, that they are Churches, and are not Churches. (2) A Church is such a Body or Society, as hath Spiritual Power, Privileges and Promises annexed unto it, and accompanying of it. That which hath not so, as such, is no Church. The particular Congregations mentioned have this Power, with Privileges, and Promises, belonging to them, or they have not. If they have not, they are no Churches, at least no complete Churches, and there are no Churches in the Earth, wherein those things can be done, for which the Being of Churches was Ordained, as namely, the joint Celebration of Divine Worship by all the Members of them. If they have such Power, I desire to know from whence or whom they have it; if from Christ then are they of his Institution; and who can divest them of that Power, or any part of it? That they have it from men, I suppose will not ⟨p. 70⟩be pretended. (3) As unto that way of the Exercise of Discipline suited unto any other Church-State but that which is Congregational, we shall consider it afterwards. (4) What is done in particular Congregations, is not the Act of any greater Church; as a Diocesan or the like. For whatever acts any thing, acts according unto what it is;

that is, by Ecclesiastical Courts, with Jurisdiction over all Persons or Congregations belonging unto them, it will not help their Cause. For (1) Those Particular Congregations wherein these things are to be observed, are Churches, or they are not. If they are Churches, they are of Christs Appointment, and we obtain what we aim at; nor is it in the Power of any man to deprive them of any thing that belongs unto them as such; if they are not, but Inventions and Appointments of their own, then that which they say is this; that what is absolutely necessary unto the due Observation of the Worship of God, and unto all the Ends of Churches, being not appointed by Christ, is by them provided for, appointed and ordained; which is to exalt themselves in Wisdom and Care above him, and to place themselves in a nearer Relation to the Church than he. To grant that many of those things which are the Ends for which any Church-State under the Gospel is appointed, cannot be performed or attained but in, and by particular Congregations, and yet to deny that those particular Congregations are of Christs Institution, is to speak contradictions, and at the same time to affirm, that they are Churches, and are not Churches. (2) A Church is such a Body or Society, as hath Spiritual Power, Priviledges and Promises annexed unto it, and accompanying of it. That which hath not so, as such, is no Church. The particular Congregations mentioned have this Power, with Priviledges, and Promises, belonging to them, or they have not. If they have not, they are no Churches, at least no compleat Churches, and there are no Churches in the Earth, wherein those things can be done, for which the Being of Churches was Ordained, as namely, the joynt Celebration of Divine Worship by all the Members of them. If they have such Power, I desire to know from whence or whom they have it; if from Christ then are they of his Institution; and who can divest them of that Power, or any part of it? That they have it from men, I suppose will not