The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

THIS Excommunication, as we have proved before, is an act of Church-Authority, exerted in the Name of our Lord ⟨p. 209⟩Jesus Christ. And if so, then it is an act of the Officers of the Church, namely, so far as it is Authoritative; for there is no Authority in the Church properly so called, but what resides in the Officers of it. There is an Office in the Church, which is merely Ministerial without any formal Authority, that is of the Deacons. But there is no Authority in exercise, but what is in the Elders and Rulers of the Church. And there are two Reasons, which prove that the power of Excommunication, as to the Authoritative Exercise of it, is in the Elders of the Church. (1.) Because the Apostles, by virtue of their Office-Power in every Church, did join in the Authoritative Excommunication, as is plain in the case insisted on, 1 Cor. 5. And there is no Office-Power now remaining, but what is in the Elders of the Church. (2.) It is an Act of Rule. But all Rule, properly so called, is in the hands of Rulers only. We may add hereunto, that the care of the preservation of the Edification of all its Members, of the Correction and Salvation of Offenders, is principally incumbent on them, or committed unto them as we have declared; as also, that they are best able to judge when and for what this Sentence ought to be denounced against any, which requires their best skill in the Wisdom of Spiritual Rule. And therefore the omission of the exercise of it, when it was necessary, is charged as a neglect on the Angels or Rulers of the Churches, as the due execution of it is commended in them. And therefore unto them it doth belong with respect unto their Office, and is thereon an Office-Act, or an Act of Authority.

THIS Excommunication, as we have proved before, is an act of Church-Authority, exerted in the Name of our Lord ⟨p. 209⟩Jesus Christ. And if so, then it is an act of the Officers of the Church, namely, so far as it is Authoritative; for there is no Authority in the Church properly so called, but what resides in the Officers of it. There is an Office in the Church, which is meerly Ministerial without any formal Authority, that is of the Deacons. But there is no Authority in exercise, but what is in the Elders and Rulers of the Church. And there are two Reasons, which prove that the power of Excommunication, as to the Authoritative Exercise of it, is in the Elders of the Church. (1.) Because the Apostles, by virtue of their Office-Power in every Church, did join in the Authoritative Excommunication, as is plain in the case insisted on,