An Organical Political body,1 is a thing of another nature; a Politic body or Commonwealth, is a Society of a certain portion of mankind, united under some form of Rule, or government, whose supreme and subordinate administration is committed to several persons, according to the Tenor of such Laws and Customs as that Society hath, or doth consent unto. This also is said to be Organical on a Metaphorical account, because the Officers and Members that are in it, and over it, hold proportion to the more noble parts of the body. Kings are said to be Heads, Councillors [Greek or Hebrew]: to the constitution of such a Commonwealth distinctly, as such, it is required that ⟨p. 148⟩the whole hath the same Laws; but not that only. Two Nations most distinct and different, on the account of other ends and interests, may yet have the same individual Laws and customs, for the distribution of Justice, and preservation of peace among themselves. An entire form of Regiment and government peculiar thereunto, is required for the constitution of a distinct Political Body. In this sense we deny the Church whereof we speak, to be an Organical, Political Body▪ as not having indeed any of the requisites thereunto. Not one Law of Order? the same individual Moral Law, or Law for Moral duties it hath, but a Law given to the whole, as such, for Order, Polity, Rule, it hath not; All the members of it are obliged to the same Law of Order and Polity in their several Societies; But the whole, as such hath no such Law▪ it hath no such head or Governor as such: Nor will it suffice▪ to say, that Christ is its head: for if as a visible Political body •t hath a Political Head, that Head also must be visible. The Commonweal of the Jews was a Political body; of this God was the Head and King; hence their Historian saith their Government was [Greek or Hebrew]; and when they would choose a King, God said they rejected him, ⟨p. 149⟩who was their political Head; to whom a sickle was paid yearly as Tribute, called the sickle of the Sanctuary. Now they rejected him, not by asking a King, simply, but a King after the manner of the Nations; yet that it might be a visible Political Body, it required a visible supreme Magistrate to the whole•; which when there was none, all Polity was dissolved amongst them. Judg. 21. Christ is the head of every particular Church, its Lawgiver and Ruler:
An Organicall Politicall body,1 is a thing of another nature; a Politick body or Commonwealth, is a Society of a certain portion of mankind, united under some forme of Rule, or government, whose supreame and subordinate administration is committed to severall persons, according to the Tenor of such Laws and Customes as that Society hath, or doth consent unto. This also is said to be Organicall on a Metaphoricall account, because the Officers and Members that are in it, and over it, hold proportion to the more noble parts of the body. Kings are said to be Heads, Councellors 〈non-Latin alphabet〉: to the constitution of such a Commonwealth dist••ctly, as such, it is required that ⟨p. 148⟩the whole hath the same Laws; but not that only. Two Nations most distinct and different, on the account of other ends and interests, may yet have the same individuall Laws and customes, for the distribution of Justice, and preservation of peace among themselves. An entire forme of Regiment and government peculiar thereunto, is required for the constitution of a distinct Politicall Body. In this sence we denie the Church whereof we speake, to be an Organicall, Politicall Body▪ as not having indeed any of the requisites thereunto. Not one Law of Order? the same individuall Morall Law, or Law for Morall duties it hath, but a Law given to the whole, as such, for Order, Polity, Rule, it hath not; All the members of it are obliged to the same Law of Order and Polity in their severall Societies; But the whole, as such hath no such Law▪ it hath no such head or Governour as such: Nor will it suffice▪ to say, that Christ is its head: for if as a visible Politicall body •t hath a Politicall Head, that Head also must be visible. The Commonweal of the Jews was a Politicall body; of this God was the Head and King; hence their Historian saith their Government was 〈non-Latin alphabet〉; and when they would choose a King, God said they rejected him, ⟨p. 149⟩who was their politicall Head; to whom a sickle was paid yearly as Tribute, called the sickle of the Sanctuary. Now they rejected him, not by asking a King, simply, but a King after the manner of the Nations; yet that it might be a visible Politicall Body, it required a visible supreame Magistrate to the whole; which when there was none, all Polity was dissolved amongst them.
- 1§. 41▪
