The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

15. THE Lord Christ having instituted and appointed Officers, Rulers or Leaders in his Church, (as we shall see in the next place) to look unto the discharge of all Church Duties among the Members of it, to administer and dispense all its Privileges, and to exercise all its Authority, the consent and engagement insisted on, is expressly required unto the constitution of this Order and the preservation of it. For without this, no Believer can be brought into that Relation unto another as his Pastor, Guide, Over-seer, Ruler unto the ends mentioned, wherein he must be subject unto him, partake of all Ordinances of Divine Worship administered by him with Authority, in obedience unto the will of Christ; They gave their own selves to us (saith the Apostle) by the will of God.

15. THE Lord Christ having instituted and appointed Officers, Rulers or Leaders in his Church, (as we shall see in the next place) to look unto the discharge of all Church Duties among the Members of it, to administer and dispense all its Privileges, and to exercise all its Authority, the consent and engagement insisted on, is expresly required unto the constitution of this Order and the preservation of it. For without this, no Believer can be brought into that Relation unto another as his Pastor, Guide, Over-seer, Ruler unto the ends mentioned, wherein he must be subject unto him, partake of all Ordinances of Divine Worship administred by him with Authority, in obedience unto the will of Christ; They gave their own selves to us (saith the Apostle) by the will of God.

16. WHEREFORE, the Formal Cause of a Church consisteth in an Obediential Act of Believers, in such numbers as may be useful unto the ends of Church Edification, jointly giving up themselves unto the Lord Jesus Christ, to do and observe all his Commands, resting on the promise of his especial presence thereon; giving and communicating by his Law, all the Rights, Powers and Privileges of his Church unto them; and in a mutual Agreement among themselves, jointly to perform all the Duties required of them in that State, with an especial subjection unto the Spiritual Authority of Rules and Rulers appointed by Christ in that State.