The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

THE first instance of the Choice of a Church-Officer had a mixture in it of the first and later way, in the case of Matthias. As he was able to be a Church-Officer he had the choice and consent of the Church; as he was to be an Apostle or an extraordinary Officer, there was an immediate divine disposition of him into his Office; the latter to give him Apostolical Authority, the former to make him a president of the future actings of the Church in the call of their Officers.

I say this being the first example and pattern of the calling of any Person unto Office in the Christian Church-State, wherein there was an interposition of the ordinary actings of Men, is established as a Rule and President not to be changed, altered or departed from, in any Age of the Church whatever. It is so, as unto what was of common Right and Equity, which belonged unto the whole Church. And I cannot but wonder, how Men durst ever reject and disannul this divine Example and Rule. It will not avail them to say, that it is only a matter of Fact, and not a precept or institution that is recorded. For, (1.) It is a Fact left on record in the holy Scripture for our Instruction and Direction. (2.) It is an example of the Apostles and the whole Church proposed unto us, which in all things, not otherwise determined, hath the force of an institution. (3.) If there was no more in it but this, that we have a matter of ⟨p. 63⟩common Right, determined and applied by the Wisdom of the Apostles, and the entire Church of Believers at that time in the World, it were an impiety to depart from it, unless in case of the utmost necessity.

I say this being the first example and pattern of the calling of any Person unto Office in the Christian Church-State, wherein there was an interposition of the ordinary actings of Men, is established as a Rule and President not to be changed, altered or departed from, in any Age of the Church whatever. It is so, as unto what was of common Right and Equity, which belonged unto the whole Church. And I cannot but wonder, how Men durst ever reject and disanul this divine Example and Rule. It will not avail them to say, that it is only a matter of Fact, and not a precept or institution that is recorded. For, (1.) It is a Fact left on record in the holy Scripture for our Instruction and Direction. (2.) It is an example of the Apostles and the whole Church proposed unto us, which in all things, not otherwise determined, hath the force of an institution. (3.) If there was no more in it but this, that we have a matter of