The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

THAT this Power under the name of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven was originally granted unto the whole professing Church of Believers, and that it is utterly impossible it should reside in any other who is subject unto Death, or if to be renewed upon any occasional intermission, is so fully proved by all Protestant Writers against the Papists, that it needs not on this occasion be again insisted on.

VI. THESE things have been spoken concerning the Polity of the Church in General, as it is taken objectively for the constitution of its State, and the laws of its Rule; we are in the next place to consider it subjectively, as it is a power or faculty of the minds of Men, unto whom the Rule of the Church is committed. And in this sense it is the wisdom or understanding of the Officers of the Church, to exercise the Government in it appointed by Jesus Christ, or to rule it according to his Laws and Constitutions: Or,

VI. THESE things have been spoken concerning the Polity of the Church in General, as it is taken objectively for the constitution of its State, and the laws of its Rule; we are in the next place to consider it subjectively, as it is a power or faculty of the minds of Men, unto whom the Rule of the Church is committed. And in this sence it is the wisdom or understanding of the Officers of the Church, to exercise the Government in it appointed by Jesus Christ, or to rule it according to his Laws and Constitutions: Or,

THIS Wisdom is a Spiritual Gift (1 Cor. 12.9.) whereby the Officers of the Church are enabled to make a due application of all ⟨p. 41⟩the Rules and Laws of Christ, unto the Edification of the Church and all the Members of it.