The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

THE persons concerned in this Rule of the Church, both those that Rule and those that are to be Ruled, as unto all their Civil and Political concerns in this World, are subject unto the Civil Government of the Kingdoms and Places wherein they inhabit. And there are sundry things which concern the outward state and condition of the Church that are at the disposal of the Governors of this World: But, whereas the Power to be exercised in the Church is merely Spiritual as unto its objects, which are the Consciences of Men; and as unto its ends, which are the tendency of their Souls unto God, their spiritual obedience in Christ and Eternal Life, it is a Frenzy to dream of any other Power or Authority in this Rule, but that of Christ alone.

THE persons concerned in this Rule of the Church, both those that Rule and those that are to be Ruled, as unto all their Civil and Political concerns in this World, are subject unto the Civil Government of the Kingdoms and Places wherein they inhabit. And there are sundry things which concern the outward state and condition of the Church that are at the disposal of the Governours of this World: But, whereas the Power to be exercised in the Church is meerly Spiritual as unto its objects, which are the Consciences of Men; and as unto its ends, which are the tendency of their Souls unto God, their spiritual obedience in Christ and Eternal Life, it is a Phrensy to dream of any other Power or Authority in this Rule, but that of Christ alone.

TO sum up this Discourse; If the Rulers of the Church, the greatest of them, have only a Ministerial Power committed unto them, and are precisely limited thereunto; if in the exercise thereof they are Servants of the Church unto its Edification; if all Lordly Domination in an exaltation above the Church or the Members of it, in Dignity and Authority of this World, and the exercise of Power by external Coercive Jurisdiction be forbidden unto them; if the whole Power and Rule of the Church be Spiritual and not Carnal, mighty through God ⟨p. 32⟩and not through the Laws of Men; and be to be exercised by spiritual means for spiritual ends only; it is apparent how it hath been lost in, or cast out of the World, for the introduction of a Lordly Domination, a Secular Coercive Jurisdiction, with Laws and Powers no way derived from Christ, in the room thereof. Neither is it possible for any Man alive to reconcile the present Government of some Churches, either as unto the Officers who have the Administration of that Rule, or the Rules and Laws whereby they act and proceed, or Powers which they exercise, or the Jurisdiction which they claim, or the manner of their proceeding in its Administration, unto any tolerable consistency with the Principles, Rules and Laws of the Government of the Church given by Christ himself. And this alone is a sufficient Reason why those who endeavour to preserve their Loyalty entire unto Jesus Christ, should in their own practice seek after the Reduction of the Rule of the Church, unto his Commands and Appointments; in the public disposals of Nations we have no concernment.