The Divine Right of Church Government | Page 7

utmost judgment of
discerning such as have true grace, real saints.
Their churches are gathered out of other true visible churches of Christ,
without any leave or consent of pastor or flock; yea, against their wills,
receiving such as tender themselves, yea, too often by themselves or
others, directly or indirectly seducing disciples after them.
Preaching elders are only elected, not ordained.
Ruling elders also preach.
The subject of church government is the community of the faithful.
The church officers act immediately as the servants of the church, and
deputed thereby.
All censures and acts of government are dispensed in single
congregations ultimately, independently, without all liberty of appeal
from them to any superior church assembly; so the parties grieved are

left without remedy.
There are acknowledged no authoritative classes or synods, in common,
great, difficult cases, and in matters of appeals, but only suasive and
consultative; and in case advice be not followed, they proceed only to a
non-communion.
In the presbyterial government.
One general visible Church of Christ on earth is acknowledged, and all
particular churches; and single congregations are but as similar parts of
that whole.
The matter of the Church invisible are only true believers, but of the
Church visible persons professing true faith in Christ, and obedience to
him according to the rules of the Gospel.
Parochial churches are received as true visible churches of Christ, and
most convenient for mutual edification. Gathering churches out of
churches, hath no footsteps in Scripture; is contrary to apostolical
practice; is the scattering of churches, the daughter of schism, the
mother of confusion, but the stepmother to edification.
Preaching elders are both elected and ordained.
Ruling elders only rule, preach not, 1 Tim. v. 17.
The subject of church government is only Christ's own church officers.
The church governors act immediately as the servants of Christ, and as
appointed by him.
All censures and acts of government are dispensed in congregational
presbyteries subordinately, dependently, with liberty of appeal in all
cases to presbyterial or synodal assemblies; where parties grieved have
sufficient remedy.
There are acknowledged, and with happy success used, not only
suasive and consultative; but also authoritative classes and synods, in

cases of great importance, difficulty, common concernment, or appeals;
which have power to dispense all church censures, as need shall
require.
Let these and such like particulars in the independent way, differing
from the presbyterial, be duly pondered, and then let the impartial and
indifferent reader judge, whether they be not the deformities, at least
the infirmities of that way.
III. How many true excellences are there in the way of the presbyterial
government, wherein it utterly surpasses the independent government!
Read but the particulars of the former parallel in the presbyterial
government, and then consider how far this transcends, yea, how the
independent government is indeed no government at all, to the
presbyterial government; wherein is to be found such ample provision,
and that according to the word of God, for comely order against
confusion; for peace and unity of the Church against schism and
division; for truth of the faith against all error and heresy; for piety and
unblamableness against all impiety and scandal of conversation; for
equity and right against all mal-administrations, whether ignorant,
arbitrary, or tyrannical; for the honor and purity of all Christ's
ordinances against all contempt, pollution, and profanation; for comfort,
quickening, and encouragement of the saints in all the ways of Christ;
and consequently for the honor of God and our Lord Jesus Christ in all
the mysterious services of his spiritual sanctuary: all which rich
advantages, how impossible is it they should ever be found in the
independent government so long as it continues independent? And
what though some pious minister and people embrace the independent
way! This dazzles not the eyes of the intelligent, but of the infirm; we
are to be regulated by Scripture warrant, not by human examples. The
best of saints have failed in the ecclesiastical affairs; what a sharp
contention was there between Paul and Barnabas, Acts xv. 39, &c.;
what a dangerous dissimulation was there in Peter, the Jews, and
Barnabas! Gal. ii. 11, 12, 13, &c.; and, therefore, it is not safe, prudent,
or conscientious, to imitate all the examples of the best, and yet how
few are those that have engaged themselves in the independent way, in
comparison to the multitude of precious ministers and people, inferior

to them neither in parts, learning, piety, nor any other spiritual gift, who
are for the presbyterial way of church government! Notwithstanding,
let all the true Israel of God constantly follow, not the doubtful
practices of unglorified saints, but the written pleasure of the most
glorious King of saints; and as many as walk according to this rule,
peace shall be on them, and upon the