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

The Assumption (That the Form of Government which we plead for, is that wherein the power of choosing men to be entrusted with managing of all public Affairs of Importance, is committed to them who are furnished with the best helps for securing to a Christian State the faithful discharge of such a Trust) may be confirmed, by showing what these Helps are; viz. 1. That the Members of the Church are Saints by calling, ¹i. e. men separated from the world, and the pollutions thereof, out of which they are called, and dedicated to God, as the first-born, and the first-fruits were; and they are qualified, by the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, in some measure through fellowship with Christ, to serve God and men in holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives. 2. That these Saints by calling being in Church-Order according to Christ's appointment, are in Covenant with God, and one with another, whereby they are most strictly bound to do faithfully, whatsoever they do to God or men. 3. That by virtue of this Order, they are bound to mutual helpfulness, in Watching over one another, Instructing, Admonishing, and Exhorting one another, to prevent sin, or to recover such as are fallen, or to encourage one another, and strengthen them in well-doing.

The Assumption (That the Form of Government which we plead for, is that wherein the power of chusing men to be intrusted with managing of all publick Affairs of Importance, is committed to them who are furnished with the best helps for securing to a Christian State the faithful discharge of such a Trust) may be confirmed, by shewing what these Helps are; viz. 1. That the Members of the Church are Saints by calling, ¹i. e. men separated from the world, and the pollutions thereof, out of which they are called, and dedicated to God, as the first-born, and the first-fruits were; and they are qualified, by the spirit of wisdome and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, in some measure through fellowship with Christ, to serve God and men in holiness and righteousness all the dayes of their lives. 2. That these Saints by calling being in Church-Order according to Christ's appointment, are in Covenant with God, and one with another, whereby they are most strictly bound to do faithfully, whatsoever they do to God or men. 3. That by virtue of this Order, they are bound to mutual helpfulness, in Watching over one another, Instructing, Admonishing, and Exhorting one another, to prevent sin, or to recover such as are faln, or to encourage one another, and strengthen them in well-doing.