The Divine Right of Church Government | Page 6

their bodies,
for they inflict no corporal punishment, by banishment, imprisonment,
branding, slitting, cropping, striking, whipping, dismembering, or
killing. Not over their souls; for, them they desire by this government
to gain, Matth. xviii. 15; to edify, 2 Cor. x. 8, and xiii. 10; and to save,
1 Cor. v. 5. Only this government ought to be impartial and severe
against sin, that the flesh may be destroyed, 1 Cor. v. 5. It is only
destructive to corruption, which is deadly and destructive to the soul.
Thus the imputation itself of arbitrary conduct and tyranny to the
presbyterial government is unjust and groundless.
II. The pretended ground of this aspersion is false and frivolous. The
presbyters of the Assembly of Divines, and others (Diotrephes-like,
affecting pre-eminence) have desired an unlimited power, according to
their own prudence and judgment, in keeping men from the ordinances
in cases of scandal not enumerated. Ans. 1. The presbyters of the
Assembly and others, are so far from the domineering humor of
Diotrephes, that they could gladly and heartily have quitted all
intermeddling in church government, if Jesus Christ had not by office
engaged them thereto; only to have dispensed the word and sacraments
would have procured them less hatred, and more case. 2. They desired
liberty to keep from the ordinances, not only persons guilty of the
scandals enumerated, but of all such like scandals, (and to judge which
are those scandals, not according to their minds unlimitedly, but
according to the mind of Christ in his word, more sure than all
ordinances or acts of Parliament in the world.) And was this so hideous
a desire? This liberty was desired, not for themselves, but for
well-constituted elderships. As great power was granted by the very

service-book to every single curate; (see the Rubric before the
communion.) A perfect enumeration and description of scandals can be
made in no book but in the Scriptures; and when all is done, must we
not refer thither? All scandals are punishable, as well as any, and to
inflict penalties on some, and not on others as bad or worse, is
inexcusable partiality. Why should not presbyteries duly constituted,
especially the greater, be accounted, at least, as faithful, intelligent,
prudent, and every way as competent judges of what is scandal, and
what not, according to the Scriptures, and that without arbitrary
conduct and tyranny, as any civil court, committees, or commissioners
whatsoever? Ruling church assemblies are intrusted with the whole
government in the church, consequently with this, and every part. The
best reformed churches allow to their presbyteries power to keep from
the ordinances scandalous persons, not only for scandals enumerated,
but for scandals of like nature not enumerated, with some general
clause or other, as may appear in eight several churches, according to
the allegations here in the foot-note;[4] and, therefore, no new thing is
desired, but what is commonly practised in the reformed churches,
whom we should imitate so far as they lead us on towards purity and
perfection.
Doubt 3. But the independent government seems to be a far more
excellent way, and it is embraced by many godly and precious people
and ministers.
Ans. 1. What true excellency is there at all in the whole independent
government, save only in those particulars wherein it agrees with the
presbyterial government; and only so far as it is presbyterial? Therefore,
the presbyterial government is equally, yea, primarily and principally
excellent. Wherein is the excellency of the independent way of
government? 1st. Have they only those officers which Christ himself
hath appointed, pastors and teachers, ruling elders and deacons? So the
Presbyterians. 2d. Have they those spiritual censures, of admonishing,
excommunicating, and receiving again into communion, which Christ
ordained in his Church, for guarding his ordinances, and well guiding
of the flock? So the Presbyterians. 3d. Have they congregational
presbyteries duly elected, and constituted for the exercise of all acts of

government, proper and necessary for their respective congregations?
So the Presbyterians. 4th. Have they liberty of electing their own[5]
officers, pastors, elders, and deacons? So the Presbyterians. 5th. Have
they power to keep the whole lump of the Church from being leavened,
and purely to preserve the ordinances of Christ, from pollution and
profanation, &c.? So the Presbyterians, &c. So that whereinsoever the
independent government is truly excellent, the presbyterial government
stands in a full equipage and equality of excellence.
II. What one true excellence is there in the whole independent
government in any one point, wherein it really differs from the
presbyterial government? Take for instance a few points of difference.
In the independent government.
No other visible Church of Christ is acknowledged, but only a single
congregational meeting in one place to partake of all ordinances.
The matter of their visible Church must be to their