The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

THE Communion of Churches congenial and suited unto this Union, proceeding from it, and exercised by virtue of it, ariseth from a various contignation of Order, or the erection of one story of Church Interest upon another, until we come to the Idol placed on the top of this Babel. So is this Communion carried on from the obedience and subjection of the lowest rubbish of Ecclesiastical Order, unto Diocesans, of them to Metropolitans, of them to Patriarchs or Cardinals, of them to the Pope; or an ascent is made from Diocesan Synods, by Provincial and National, to those that are called Ecumenical, whose Head is the Pope.

THE Communion of Churches congenial and suited unto this Union, proceeding from it, and exercised by virtue of it, ariseth from a various contignation of Order, or the erection of one story of Church Interest upon another, until we come to the Idol placed on the top of this Babel. So is this Communion carried on from the obedience and subjection of the lowest rubbish of Ecclesiastical Order, unto Diocesans, of them to Metropolitans, of them to Patriarchs or Cardinals, of them to the Pope; or an ascent is made from Diocesan Synods, by Provincial and National, to those that are called Oecumenical, whose Head is the Pope.

YET Two things must be farther observed to clear this Communion of the Roman Catholic Church; as, (1.) That there is no ascent of Church-Order or Power by a vital Act of Communion from the lower Degrees, Orders or Consociations, and by them to the Pope, as though he should receive any thing of Church-Power from them; but all the plenitude of it being originally vested in him, by these several Orders and Degrees, he communicates of it unto all Churches, as the Life of their Conjunction and Communion. (2.) That no Man is so jointed in this Order, so compacted in this Body, but that he is also personally and immediately subject to the Pope, and depends on him as unto his whole profession of Religion.

YET Two things must be farther observed to clear this Communion of the Roman Catholick Church; as, (1.) That there is no ascent of Church-Order or Power by a vital Act of Communion from the lower Degrees, Orders or Consociations, and by them to the Pope, as though he should receive any thing of Church-Power from them; but all the plenitude of it being originally vested in him, by these several Orders and Degrees, he communicates of it unto all Churches, as the Life of their Conjunction and Communion. (2.) That no Man is so jointed in this Order, so compacted in this Body, but that he is also personally and immediately subject to the Pope, and depends on him as unto his whole profession of Religion.