The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

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 ⟨p. 163⟩Christ hath ordained. And if any shall make Advantage of this Complaint, That where the People have their due Liberty granted unto them, they are apt to assume that Power unto themselves which belongs not unto them; an evil attended with troublesome Impertinences and Disorder, tending unto Anarchy; let them remember, on the other hand, how upon the confinement of Power and Authority unto the Guides, Bishops or Rulers of the Church, they have changed the nature of Church-Power, and enlarged their Usurpation, until the whole Rule of the Church issued in absolute Tyranny. Wherefore, no fear of consequents that may ensue and arise from the darkness, ignorance, weakness, lusts, corruptions or secular interests of Men ought to entice us unto the least Alteration of the Rule by any prudential Provisions of our own.

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