The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

4. AS the Rule of the Church, in those by whom it is exercised, is merely Ministerial, with respect unto the Authority of Christ, his Law, and the Liberty of the Church, wherewith he hath made it free; so in its nature it is spiritual, purely and only. So the Apostle Affirms expressly, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5, 6. For its object is spiritual; namely, the Souls and Consciences of Men whereunto it extends, which no other Humane Power doth; nor doth it reach those other concerns of Men that are subject unto any political Power: Its end is Spiritual, namely, ⟨p. 164⟩the Glory of God, in the guidance and direction of the Minds and Souls of Men, to live unto him, and come to the enjoyment of him; the Law of it is spiritual, even the Word, Command and Direction of Christ himself alone; the Acts and Exercise of it in binding and loosing, in remitting and retaining Sin, in opening and shutting the Kingdom of Heaven, are all Spiritual merely and only. Neither can there be an Instance given of any thing belonging unto the Rule of the Church, that is of another nature, Yea, it is sufficient eternally to exclude any Power or Exercise of it, any Act of Rule or Government from any Interest in Church-Affairs, that it can be proved to be Carnal, Political, Despotical, of external Operaration, or not entirely Spiritual.

4. AS the Rule of the Church, in those by whom it is exercised, is meerly Ministerial, with respect unto the Authority of Christ, his Law, and the Liberty of the Church, wherewith he hath made it free; so in its nature it is spiritual, purely and only. So the Apostle Affirms expresly, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5, 6. For its object is spiritual; namely, the Souls and Consciences of Men whereunto it extends, which no other Humane Power doth; nor doth it reach those other concerns of Men that are subject unto any political Power: Its end is Spiritual, namely, ⟨p. 164⟩the Glory of God, in the guidance and direction of the Minds and Souls of Men, to live unto him, and come to the enjoyment of him; the Law of it is spiritual, even the Word, Command and Direction of Christ himself alone; the Acts and Exercise of it in binding and loosing, in remitting and retaining Sin, in opening and shutting the Kingdom of Heaven, are all Spiritual meerly and only. Neither can there be an Instance given of any thing belonging unto the Rule of the Church, that is of another nature, Yea, it is sufficient eternally to exclude any Power or Exercise of it, any Act of Rule or Government from any Interest in Church-Affairs, that it can be proved to be Carnal, Political, Despotical, of external Operaration, or not entirely Spiritual.