Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit…

And if that kind of Power and Rule in the Church, which is for the most part exercised in the World, be not forbidden by our Saviour, no Man living can tell what is so. For as to Meekness, Moderation, Patience, Equity, Righteousness, they were more easy to be found in the Legal Administrations of Power among the Gentiles, than in these used in many Churches. But such a Rule is signified unto them, the Authority whereof from whence it proceedeth was Spiritual, its Object the Minds and Souls of Men only, and the way of whose Administration was to consist in an humble, holy, Spiritual Application of the Word of God, or Rules of the Gospel unto them. (2) The End of this Rule is merely and solely the Edification of the Church. All the Power that the Apostles themselves had either in or over the Church, was but unto their Edification, 2 Cor. 10. 8. And the Edification of the Church consists in the Increase of Faith and Obedience in ⟨p. 270⟩all the Members thereof, in the subduing and mortifying of Sin, in Fruitfulness in good Works, in the Confirmation and Consolation of them that stand, in the raising up them that are fallen, and the recovery of them that wander, in the Growth and Flourishing of mutual Love and Peace; and whatever Rule is exercised in the Church unto any other end, is Foreign to the Gospel, and tends only to the Destruction of the Church it self. (3) In the way and manner of the Administration of this Rule and Government, two things may be considered. (1) What is internal in the Qualifications of the Minds of them by whom it is to be exercised. Such are Wisdom, Diligence, Love, Meekness, Patience, and the like Evangelical Endowments. (2) What is external, or what is the outward Rule of it, and this is the Word and Law of Christ alone, as we have elsewhere declared.

And if that kind of Power and Rule in the Church, which is for the most part exercised in the World, be not forbidden by our Saviour, no Man living can tell what is so. For as to Meekness, Moderation, Patience, Equity, Righteousness, they were more easie to be found in the Legal Administrations of Power among the Gentiles, than in these used in many Churches. But such a Rule is signified unto them, the Authority whereof from whence it proceedeth was Spiritual, its Object the Minds and Souls of Men only, and the way of whose Administration was to consist in an humble, holy, Spiritual Application of the Word of God, or Rules of the Gospel unto them. (2) The End of this Rule is meerly and solely the Edification of the Church. All the Power that the Apostles themselves had either in or over the Church, was but unto their Edification,