The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

5. THE Change of this Government of the Church, fell out and was introduced gradually, upon an advantage taken from the unmeetness of the People to be lead under this Spiritual Rule. For the greatest part of them that made up Christian Churches, being become ignorant and carnal, that Rule which consists in a spiritual influence on the Consciences of Men, was no way able to retain them within the bounds of outward obedience, which was at last only aimed at. There was therefore another kind of Rule and Government judged necessary to retain them in any Order or Decorum. And it must be acknowledged, that where the Members of the Church are not in some degree Spiritual, a Rule that is merely Spiritual will be of no great use unto them. But principally, this change was introduced by those that were in possession of the Rule it self; and that on two grounds. (1.) Their unskilfulness in the management of this Spiritual Rule, or weariness of the Duties which are required thereunto: This made them willing to desert it; with that perpetual labour and exercise of all sorts of Graces which are required in it, and to embrace another more easy, and more suited unto their Inclinations. (2.) A desire of the Secular advantages of Profit, Honour and Veneration, which tendered themselves unto them in another kind of Rule: By these means was the Original Government of the Church, which was of Divine Institution, utterly lost; and a Worldly Domination ⟨p. 165⟩introduced in the room thereof. But the brief delineation given of it before, with what shall now be added, will demonstrate sufficiently, that all these Disputes and Contests which are in the World, between the Church of Rome and others about Church-Power and Rule, are utterly foreign unto Christian Religion.

5. THE Change of this Government of the Church, fell out and was introduced gradually, upon an advantage taken from the unmeetness of the People to be lead under this Spiritual Rule. For the greatest part of them that made up Christian Churches, being become ignorant and carnal, that Rule which consists in a spiritual influence on the Consciences of Men, was no way able to retain them within the bounds of outward obedience, which was at last only aimed at. There was therefore another kind of Rule and Government judged necessary to retain them in any Order or Decorum. And it must be acknowledged, that where the Members of the Church are not in some degree Spiritual, a Rule that is meerly Spiritual will be of no great use unto them. But principally, this change was introduced by those that were in possession of the Rule it self; and that on two grounds. (1.) Their unskilfulness in the management of this Spiritual Rule, or weariness of the Duties which are required thereunto: This made them willing to desert it; with that perpetual labour and exercise of all sorts of Graces which are required in it, and to embrace another more easie, and more suited unto their Inclinations. (2.) A desire of the Secular advantages of Profit, Honour and Veneration, which tendered themselves unto them in another kind of Rule: By these means was the Original Government of the Church, which was of Divine Institution, utterly lost; and a Worldly Domination