The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

6. I SHALL therefore briefly enquire into these three things, (1.) What is the Skill and Polity that is required unto the Exercise, or Administration of the Government of the Church? (2.) What is the sole Law and Rule of it? (3.) What are the Acts and Duties of it? What it is conversant about; especially those wherein the Office of Ruling Elders doth take place.

1. THE Polity of Church-Government subjectively considered, is generally supported to consist, (1.) In a skill, learning or understanding in the Civil, and especially the Canon Law, with the additional Canons, accommodating that Law unto the present state of things of the Nation, to be interpreted according unto the general Rules of it. (2.) Knowledge of and Acquaintance with the Constitution, Power, Jurisdiction and Practice of some Law Courts; which being in their original, grant of Power, manner of Proceeding, Pleas and Censures merely Secular, are yet called Ecclesiastical or Spiritual. (3.) A good Discretion to understand a-right the extent of their Power, with the bounds and limits of it; that on the one hand they let none escape whom they can reach by the discipline of their Courts, and on the other not entrench so far on the Civil-Power and the Jurisdiction of other Courts according to the Law of the Land, as to bring themselves into charge or trouble. (4.) An acquaintance with the Table of Fees, that they may neither lose their own profit, nor give advantage unto others to question them for taking more than their due. But in these things we are not at present concerned.

1. THE Polity of Church-Government subjectively considered, is generally supported to consist, (1.) In a skill, learning or understanding in the Civil, and especially the Canon Law, with the additional Canons, accomodating that Law unto the present state of things of the Nation, to be interpreted according unto the general Rules of it. (2.) Knowledge of and Acquaintance with the Constitution, Power, Jurisdiction and Practice of some Law Courts; which being in their original, grant of Power, manner of Proceeding, Pleas and Censures meerly Secular, are yet called Ecclesiastical or Spiritual. (3.) A good Discretion to understand a-right the extent of their Power, with the bounds and limits of it; that on the one hand they let none escape whom they can reach by the discipline of their Courts, and on the other not entrench so far on the Civil-Power and the Jurisdiction of other Courts according to the Law of the Land, as to bring themselves into charge or trouble. (4.) An acquaintance with the Table of Fees, that they may neither lose their own profit, nor give advantage unto others to question them for taking more than their due. But in these things we are not at present concerned.