A discourse about civil government in a new plantation whose design is religion written…

Argum. 4 The fourth Argument shall be taken out of 1 Cor 6. ver. 1, to 8. Whence I thus argue: That Form of Government wherein the power of Civil Administrations is denied unto unbelievers, and committed to the Saints, is the best Form of Government in a Christian Common-wealth, and which men that are free to choose (as in new Plantations they are) ought to establ sh. The Form of Government described in the true stating of the Question, is that wherein the power of Civil Administrations is denied to unbelievers, and committed to the Saints. Therefore the Form of Government described in the true stating of the Question, is the best Form of Government in a Christian Communion, and which men that are free to choose (as in new Plantations they are) ought to establish. The Proposition is evident from the Scripture alleged. For the thing which Paul blameth in them, is not, that living under unbelieving Magistrates, they submitted to their Civil Judicature when they were cited to appear before their Judgement-seats; but this he reproveth, that when they were free to choose other Judges, (as in voluntary references they were) they would out of choice be judged under the unjust, and not under Saints. His Arguments against this are many and weighty. 1. From the danger of thus exalting unbelievers, ⟨p. 20⟩and abasing the Saints, in these words, Dare any of you having a matter against another, be judged under the unjust, and not under the Saints? 2. From the quality of unbelieving Judges, whom he calleth unjust, because they are destitute of the righteousness that is by Faith, and which is the Fountain of all true Moral Justice; and because they were ill-affected to Christians, and to the Church of Christ, and apt to vex them injuriously, if they had any business before them; and because though some men out of Christ may be found civilly honest, and morally just, as were also some Heathen men, yet you can have no assurance of their justice, seeing this is the genius and nature of all men out of Christ to be unrighteous. 3. From the property of Church-members, whom he calls Saints, that is, men consecrated to God and to his ends in all things; for so they are in their Church-estate, and by virtue of their Covenant are bound so to be:

Argum. 4 The fourth Argument shall be taken out of 1 Cor 6. ver. 1, to 8. Whence I thus argue: That Form of Government wherein the power of Civil Administrations is denied unto unbelievers, and committed to the Saints, is the best Form of Government in a Christian Common-wealth, and which men that are free to chuse (as in new Plantations they are) ought to establ sh. The Form of Government described in the true stating of the Question, is that wherein the power of Civil Administrations is denied to unbelievers, and committed to the Saints. Therefore the Form of Government described in the true stating of the Question, is the best Form of Government in a Christian Communion, and which men that are free to chuse (as in new Plantations they are) ought to establish. The Proposition is evident from the Scripture alledged. For the thing which Paul blameth in them, is not, that living under unbelieving Magistrates, they submitted to their Civil Judicature when they were cited to appear before their Judgement-seats; but this he reproveth, that when they were free to chuse other Judges, (as in voluntary references they were) they would out of choice be judged under the unjust, and not under Saints. His Arguments against this are many and weighty. 1. From the danger of thus exalting unbelievers,