Concerning Families, we see no footsteps in the propagation of mankind from Adam and Noah, of any sovereign or universal government, further then in the first Fathers of mankind, after whom as they increased, families went out, and combining made cities, and so Common-wealths by mutual consent, as in Gen. 10. and other Stories appear, except by the tyrannous usurpations of some as Nimrod, the rest were brought under; and this no doubt amongst any free people is still the most orderly, just and safe way of erecting all forms of civill government, Families to combine into Townes, Cities, Kingdoms, or Aristocratical States. But here some will say; If so, that according to this similitude, a particular congregation may be the first Church that have the Keys of Church power, and Church communion; then as families should combine into Towns and Cities, and they into greater Common-wealths, for the good of all mankind; so here these first Churches may not stand independently, but ought to combine into greater Bodies, till they come to be one whole Church; to this we say, this will not follow upon this evident reason, because civill societies and government thereof, is herein left to rules of humane prudence by the Lord and governor of the whole world; and therefore may admit various forms of Government, various Laws and Constitutions, various privileges, &c. according as men shall conceive best for themselves, so they be not against the common moral rules of equity, and the good of those Societies: but here in the Kingdom of Christ as we ⟨p. 87⟩must attend what kind of Church he hath instituted, so we must cleave to such rules, privileges, and forms of government and administrations as he hath ordained, not presuming to go one step beyond the same. And hence it is not in the power of any Church to alienate the power, rights, or privileges Christ have set in the same, or to mould up any other political Churches then he hath appointed; and here we conceive stands immovably the ne plus ultra of this similitude between the visible Church, and the estate of mankind in reference to power and government, &c. All which things well weighed, to us seems to overthrow all such intermediate forms of Churches, or the usual Churches, as Mr. Ball calls the same; as, Classical, Provincial, Diocesan, National, Patriarchicall, &c.
Concerning Families, we see no footsteps in the propagation of mankinde from Adam and Noah, of any soveraign or universall government, further then in the first Fathers of mankinde, after whom as they increased, families went out, and combining made cities, and so Common-wealths by mutuall consent, as in Gen. 10. and other Stories appear, except by the tyrannous usurpations of some as Nimrod, the rest were brought under; and this no doubt amongst any free people is still the most orderly, just and safe way of erecting all forms of civill government, Families to combine into Townes, Cities, Kingdomes, or Aristocraticall States. But here some will say; If so, that according to this similitude, a particular congregation may be the first Church that have the Keys of Church power, and Church communion; then as families should combine into Towns and Cities, and they into greater Common-wealths, for the good of all mankinde; so here these first Churches may not stand independently, but ought to combine into greater Bodies, till they come to be one whole Church; to this we say, this will not follow upon this evident reason, because civill societies and government thereof, is herein left to rules of humane prudence by the Lord and governor of the whole world; and therefore may admit various forms of Government, various Laws and Constitutions, various priviledges, &c. according as men shall conceive best for themselves, so they be not against the common morall rules of equity, and the good of those Societies: but here in the Kingdom of Christ as wee ⟨p. 87⟩must attend what kinde of Church he hath instituted, so we must cleave to such rules, priviledges, and forms of government and administrations as he hath ordained, not presuming to goe one step beyond the same. And hence it is not in the power of any Church to alienate the power, rights, or priviledges Christ have set in the same, or to mould up any other politicall Churches then he hath appointed; and here we conceive stands immovably the ne plus ultra of this similitude between the visible Church, and the estate of mankinde in reference to power and government, &c. All which things well weighed, to us seems to overthrow all such intermediate forms of Churches, or the usuall Churches, as Mr. Ball calls the same; as, Classicall, Provinciall, Diocesan, Nationall, Patriarchicall, &c.
