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

Thus are they bound in a threefold Cable unto all Faithfulness in all things to God and Man. The like assurance cannot be had in any other way, if this course be neglected.

Argum. 6 The sixth Argument, with which I will conclude, (that I may not weary you with Reading, as I have wearied my self with Writing) shall be taken from The Danger of devolving this Power upon those that are not in Church-Order. From whence the Apostle would ⟨p. 23⟩have men to be affrighted.¹ Dare any of you having business against another, be judged under the unjust, and not under the Saints? The Danger therefore that is to be feared in reference to the Church, is, The disturbance of the Churches Peace, when Power shall be put into their hands, who being of worldly spirits, hate the Saints and their Communion; and being of the seed of the Serpent, ²are at enmity against the seed of the Woman; and being Satan's instruments, who is the God of this World, are resisting and fighting against Christ his Kingdom and Government in the Church. 2. Add hereunto, The Danger of corrupting Church-Order, either by compelling them to receive into fellowship unsuitable ones, or by imposing upon them Ordinances of men and worldly Rudiments;³ or by establishing Idolatrous Worship; or by strengthening Heretics in subverting the common Faith, as those Arian Emperors, and Idolatrous Kings and States have done, of which we read so many instances.

Argum. 6 The sixth Argument, with which I will conclude, (that I may not weary you with Reading, as I have wearied my self with Writing) shall be taken from The Danger of devolving this Power upon those that are not in Church-Order. From whence the Apostle would ⟨p. 23⟩