The doctrine of instituted churches explained and proved from the word of God

5. Because the supreme Ecclesiastical Authority doth not lye in particular Congregations; if there be no National Church, then every particular •ngregation is absolute and independent, and not responsible to •y higher Power: This is too Lordly a principle, it is too ambitious a thing for every small Congregation to arrogate such an uncontrollable Power, and to be accountable to none on Earth; this is neither a probable way for the Peace of Churches, nor for the safety of Church Members; appeals […] admitted in all Kingdoms; and it is more probable that in a wh• Country, Persons may be found that may rectify the Miscarria• of particular Congregations, then that particular Congregations will not miscarry; this absoluteness of particular Congregations is a dignity that the primitive Churches did not enjoy, this is not the common Privilege of Gospel Churches; the primitive Churches were under the Government of the Apostles, and it seems that God gave them this Power, because the ordinary way of Government could not then be practised, the greater part of all Gentile Nations lying in their Heathenism.

5. Because the supream Ecclesiastical Authority doth not lye in particular Congregations; if there be no National Church, then every particular •ngregation is absolute and independant, and not responsable to •y higher Power: This is too Lordly a principle, it is too ambitious a thing for every small Congregation to arrogate such an uncontroulable Power, and to be accountable to none on Earth; this is neither a probable way for the Peace of Churches, nor for the safety of Church Members; appeals 〈…〉 admitted in all Kingdoms; and it is more probable that in a wh• Country, Persons may be found that may rectify the Miscarria• of particular Congregations, then that particular Congregations will not miscarry; this absoluteness of particular Congregations is a dignity that the primitive Churches did not enjoy, this is not the common Priviledge of Gospel Churches; the primitive Churches were under the Government of the Apostles, and it seems that God gave them this Power, because the ordinary way of Government could not then be practised, the greater part of all Gentile Nations lying in their Heathenism.