The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

1. THERE is Power, Authority, and Rule granted unto and residing in some Persons of the Church, and not in the Body of the Fraternity or Community of the People. How far the Government of the Church may be denominated Democratical from the necessary consent of the people unto the principal Acts of it in its exercise, I shall not determine. But whereas this consent, and the liberty of it is absolutely necessary according to the Law of Obedience unto Christ, which is prescribed unto the Church, requiring that all they do in compliance therewith be voluntary; as unto the manner of its exercise, being in dutiful compliance with the guidance of the Rule, it changeth not the State of the Government. And therefore, where any thing is Acted and Disposed in the Church, by Suffrage, or the plurality of Voices, the Vote of the Fraternity is not Determining and Authoritative, but only declarative of consent and obedience. It is so, in all Acts of Rule where the Church is Organical, or in complete Order.

1. THERE is Power, Authority, and Rule granted unto and residing in some Persons of the Church, and not in the Body of the Fraternity or Community of the People. How far the Government of the Church may be denominated Democratical from the necessary consent of the people unto the principal Acts of it in its exercise, I shall not determine. But whereas this consent, and the liberty of it is absolutely necessary according to the Law of Obedience unto Christ, which is prescribed unto the Church, requiring that all they do in compliance therewith be voluntary; as unto the manner of its exercise, being in dutiful compliance with the guidance of the Rule, it changeth not the State of the Government. And therefore, where any thing is Acted and Disposed in the Church, by Suffrage, or the plurality of Voices, the Vote of the Fraternity is not Determining and Authoritative, but only declarative of consent and obedience. It is so, in all Acts of Rule where the Church is Organical, or in compleat Order.

2. THAT there is such an Authority and Rule instituted by Christ in his Church, is not liable unto dispute. Where there are Bishops, Pastors, Elders, Guides, Rulers, Stewards, instituted, given, granted, called, ordained; and some to be Ruled, Sheep, Lambs, Brethren, obliged by command to obey them, follow them, submit unto them in the Lord, regard them as over them: There is Rule and Authority in some persons, and that committed unto them by Jesus Christ. But all these things are frequently repeated in the Scripture. And when in the practical Part or Exercise of Rule, due respect is not had unto their Authority, there is nothing but Confusion and Disorder. When the People judge that the Power of the Keys is committed unto them as such only, and in them doth the Right of their Use and Exercise reside; that their Elders have no interest in the disposing of Church Affairs, or in Acts of Church Power, but only their own suffrages, or what they can obtain by reasoning, and think there is no Duty incumbent on them to acquiesce in their Authority in any thing (an Evil apt to grow in Churches) it overthrows all that beautiful Order, which Jesus