Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 8. If you demand my proof, it is from the common principles that 1. The form cannot be received but into a disposed capable matter: but such are no disposed capable matter: therefore, &c. — 2. The office is for the work ▪ and therefore presupposeth a Capacity and ability for the work. The office containeth 1. An Obligation to the Duty: But no man can be obliged to do that which is Naturally Impossible to him (though a Moral Impossibility may stand with an obligation to duty, and a Natural only as founded in the Moral) 2. It containeth an Authority or Power to do the work: But such Power (which is but a Right of exercising Natural Abilities) doth presuppose the Abilities to be exercised: Natural Power, is presupposed to Civil Authority. 3. It is Essential to such Relations that they be for their Ends: And therefore where there is an apparent incapacity for the end, there is as apparent an incapacity of the Relation. But enough of this.

Sect. 8. If you demand my proof, it is from the common principles that 1. The form cannot be received but into a disposed capable matter: but such are no disposed capable matter: therefore, &c. — 2. The office is for the work ▪ and therefore presupposeth a Capacity and ability for the work. The office containeth 1. An Obligation to the Duty: But no man can be obliged to do that which is Naturally Impossible to him (though a Moral Impossibility may stand with an obligation to duty, and a Natural only as founded in the Moral) 2. It containeth an Authority or Power to do the work: But such Power (which is but a Right of excercising Naturall Abilities) doth presuppose the Abilities to be exercised: Natural Power, is presupposed to Civil Authority. 3. It is Essential to such Relations that they be for their Ends: And therefore where there is an apparent incapacity for the end, there is as apparent an incapacicy of the Relation. But enough of this.

Sect. 9. 2. A Minister is [an officer of Christ,] and therefore receiveth his Authority from him, and can have none but what he thus receives. And therefore 1. He hath no Sovereignty or Lordship over the Church, for that is the prerogative of Christ. 2. He hath no degree of underived Power, and therefore must prove his Power, and produce his Commission before he can expect the Church to acknowledge it. 3. He hath no Power to work against Christ, or to destroy the souls of men, or to do evil: Though he hath a Power by which occasionally he may be advantaged to evil, yet hath he no Authority to do it:) For Christ giveth no man power to sin, nor to do any thing against himself. 4. He deriveth not his authority from man (though by man, as an instrument, or occasion, he may) The People give him not his Power: The Magistrate gives it not: The Ordainers (Bishops or Presbyters) give it not, any further then (as I shall show anon) by signifying the will of Christ that indeed giveth it, and by investing men in it by solemn delivery. The Choosers may nominate the person that shall receive it; and the Magistrate may encourage him to accept it; and the Ordainers may Approve him and Invest him in it: but it is Christ only that gives the Power as from himself. As in Marriage, the