The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

After the descent of a numerous Progeny from Abraham's ⟨image 3⟩Loins, God takes them to himself in one Visible Body, a National but Congregational Church, to which he forms them Four hundred and thirty Years after the Promise in the Wilderness; and although all Abraham's Natural Posterity, according to the External part of the Promise made to him, were taken into visible Church-Fellowship, so that it became a National Church; yet it was such a National Church always, in the Wilderness, and in the Holy Land, as was Congregational; for it was but one Congregation during the Tabernacle, or Temple-state, first or second; they were always bound to assemble to the Tabernacle, or Temple, thrice at least every Year; hence the Tabernacle was still called the Tabernacle of the Congregation. They were to have but one Altar for Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices; what others were at any time elsewhere called High-Places, were condemned by God as Sin.

Lastly, when Christ had Divorced this People, Abolished their Mosaical Constitution, by breaking their Staff of Beauty and their Staff of Bonds, he erects his Gospel Church, calls in Disciples by his Ministry, forms them into a Body, furnisheth them with Officers and Ordinances; and after he had suffered, rose again, and continued here Forty days; in which time he frequently appeared to them, and acquainted them with his Will, ascends unto his Father, sends his Spirit in a plentiful manner at Pentecost, whereby most of them were furnished with all necessary miraculous Gifts, to the promoting the Glory and Interest of Christ among Jews and Gentiles.

Hence the whole Evangelical Ministry was first placed in the Church of Jerusalem (so far as extraordinary, or such a ⟨image 4⟩part of it as was to descend to Churches of after Ages) neither were they placed as abiding or standing Officers in any other Church as we find. In this Church they acted as the Elders thereof, and from this Church they were, it's very likely, solemnly sent by Fasting and Prayer to the Exercise of their Apostolic Function, in Preaching, Healing and working Miracles, gathering Churches, and settling Officers in them; even so as Barnabas and Paul were sent forth by the Church of Antioch.