2. This ordination we account nothing else, but the solemn putting a man into his place and office in the church, whereunto he had right before by election; being like the installing of a magistrate in the commonwealth.

Numb. 8 10. Acts 6: 5, 6. 13: 2, 3. 14: 23.

3. Church officers are officers to one church, even that particular church over which the Holy Ghost hath made them overseers. Insomuch as elders are commanded to feed, not all flocks, but that flock which is committed to their faith and trust, and dependeth upon them. Nor can constant residence at one congregation be necessary for a minister, no, nor yet lawful, if he be not a minister to one congregation only, but to the church universal; because he may not attend one part only of the church to which he is minister, but he is called to attend unto all the flock.

1 Pet. 5: 2. Acts 20: 28.

CHAPTER IX.

THE POWER OF THE CHURCH, AND ITS OFFICERS.

1. Supreme and lordly power over all the churches upon earth doth only belong unto Jesus Christ, who is King of the church, and the Head thereof.

Ps. 2: 6. Eph. 1: 21, 22. Isa. 9:6. Matt. 28: 18.

2. To every company of professed believers ecclesiastically confederate, is delegated subordinate power under Christ, in such a manner as is expresed, chap. 5. Sec. 2, and as flowing from the very nature and essence of a church; it being natural to all bodies, and so unto a church body, to be furnished with sufficient power for its own preservation and subsistence.

Acts 1:23. 6: 3, 4. 14:23. Matt. 18: 17. 1 Cor. 5: 4, 5.

3. This government of the church is a mixed government. In respect to Christ, the Head and King of the church, and the sovereign power residing in him, and exercised by him, it is a monarchy; in respect to the body or brotherhood of the church, and power from Christ granted unto them, it resembles a democracy; in respect to the officers, and power committed unto them, it is an aristocracy.

Rev. 3 7. 1 Cor. 5: 12. 1 Tim. 5: 27.

4. THE SOVEREIGN POWER OF CHRIST is exercised, (1.) In calling the church out of the world into holy fellowship with himself. (2.) In instituting the ordinances of his worship, and appointing his ministers and officers for the dispensing of them. (3.) In giving laws for the ordering of all our ways, and the ways of his house. (4.) In giving power and life to all his institutions, and to his people by them. (5.) In protecting and delivering his church against and from all the enemies of their peace.

Gal. 1: 4.

Rev. 5: 8, 9. Matt. 28: 20. Eph. 4: 8, 11. James 4: 12. Is. 33: 22 1 Tim. 3: 15. 2 Cor. 10: 4, 5. Is. 32:2. Luke 1: 71.

5. THE POWER GRANTED BY CHRIST UNTO THE BODY OF THE CHURCH AND BROTHERHOOD, is the right and authority which every church has to adopt that form of government which appears most scriptural according to its own understanding of the word of God; to manage its internal affairs; to choose those officers whom Christ has designated and ordained to teach and rule in the church; to regulate the admission, discipline, and removal of its members, according to the rule laid down in the Scriptures—amenable to no other ecclesiastical power upon earth, except by its own consent, or agreeably to clearly established scriptural principles.

Acts 6: 3, 5. 9:26. 14: 23. Matt. 18: 15, 16, 17. Titus 3; 10. Col.4: 17. 2 Cor. 2: 7, 8. Rom. 16:17. Matt. 18: 17, etc.

6. CHURCH GOVERNMENT is placed by Christ in the officers of the church, who are therefore called rulers, while they rule with God; yet in case of mal-administration they are subject to the power of the church. The Holy Ghost frequently, yea, always, where mention is made of church rule, ascribeth it to elders.

1 Tim. 5: 17. Heb. 13: 17. 1 Thess. 5:12. Rom. 12: 8.1 Cor. 12: 28, 29. Heb. 13: 7, 17. Acts 6:2. 20: 28. Rev. 2: 2. 1 Tim. 5: 19. 1 Cor. 5:4, 5, etc. 7. The whole power communicated by Jesus Christ, for the government of his church, is purely spiritual.

John 18: 36.

8. All church power is bestowed by Christ for the advantage of all the members of his church.

9. The power of government in the officers of the church doth not any wise prejudice the rights of the brotherhood; as neither do the rights of the brotherhood prejudice the prerogative or power of the officers; but they may sweetly agree together as we may see in the example of the apostles, furnished with the greatest church power, who took in the concurrence and consent of the brethren in church administration.

10. Although churches cannot be compelled to receive any officer not freely chosen by themselves, yet when a fit person is regularly inducted into office by their own choice and consent, they are bound to submit to the authority with which he is invested by the Head of the church.

2 Cor. 29, 10:6. 1 Thess. 5: 12, 13. Rom. 12: 8. Heb. 13: 17, etc.

11. From the premises it follows, that in an organic church, and right administration, all church acts proceed after the manner of a mixed administration, so as no church act can be consummated or perfected without the consent of both.

CHAPTER X.

MAINTENANCE OF PASTORS.

It is the duty of the church to furnish a suitable and sufficient maintenance to those who are called to labor in word and doctrine, not as matter of alms, but of debt, that they may give themselves wholly to the work of the ministry without embarrassment in respect to their temporal support.

1 Cor. 9: 14, 15. Matt. 9: 38. 10: 10. 1 Tim. 5: 18. 9: 9, 14. Rom. 15: 27. 1 Cor. 9: 21. 16:2. Gal. 66. 13: 11. Isa. 49: 23. 2 Cor. 8: 13, 14.

CHAPTER XI.

ADMISSION OF MEMBERS INTO THE CHURCH.

1. The doors of the churches of Christ upon earth, do not by God's appointment stand so wide open, that all sorts of people, good or bad, may freely enter therein at their pleasure, but such as are admitted thereto as members, ought to be examined and tried first, whether they be fit and meet to be received into church society, or not. The eunuch of Ethiopia, before his admission, was examined by Philip, whether he did believe on Jesus Christ with all his heart. The angel of the church at Ephesus is commended for trying such as said they were apostles and were not. There is like reason for trying of them that profess to be believers. The officers are charged with the

keeping of the doors of the church, and therefore are in a special manner to make trial of the fitness of such who enter. Twelve angels were set at the gates of the temple, lest such as were ceremonially unclean should enter thereinto.

2 Chron. 23: 19. Matt. 13:25. 22: 12. Acts 8: 37. Rev. 2: 2. Acts 9:26. Rev. 21: 12.

2. The things which are requisite to be found in all churchmembers, are repentance from sin, and faith in Jesus Christ; and therefore these are the things whereof men are to be examined at their admission into the church, and which then they must profess and hold forth in such sort, as may satisfy rational charity that the things are there indeed.

Acts 2: 38-42. 8: 37. Matt. 3: 6. Acts 19: 8.

3. Such charity and tenderness is to be used, as the weakest Christian, if sincere, may not be excluded nor discouraged. Severity of examination is to be avoided.

Rom. 14: 1. Matt. 12: 20. Isa. 40: 11.

4. A personal and public confession, and declaring of God's manner of working upon the soul, is both lawful, expedient and useful, in sundry respects, and upon sundry grounds. Those three thousand, Acts 2: 37, 41, before they were admitted by the apostles, did manifest that they were pricked in their hearts at Peter's sermon, together with earnest desire to be delivered from their sins, which now wounded their consciences, and their ready receiving of the word of promise and exhortation. We are to be ready to render a reason of the hope that is in us, to every one that asketh us; therefore we must be able and ready upon any occasion to declare and show our repentance for sin, faith unfeigned, and effectual calling, because these are the reasons of a well-grounded hope. I have not hidden thy righteousness from the great congregation.

Ps. 40: 10. 1 Pet. 3: 15. Heb. 11: 1. Eph. 1: 18.

5. All believers ought, as God giveth them opportunity, to endeavor to join themselves to a particular church, submitting themselves to the doctrine and discipline thereof;-bowing their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ; and, as mutual members of the same body, serving to the edification of the brethren, according to the talents God has given them.

CHAPTER XIII.

REMOVAL AND DISMISSION OF CHURCH MEMBERS.

1. Church members may not remove or depart from the church, and so one from another as they please, nor without just and weighty cause, but ought to live and dwell together, forasmuch as they are commanded not to forsake the assembling of themselves together. Such departure tends to the dissolution and ruin of the body, as the pulling of stones and pieces of timber from the building, and of members from the natural body, tend to the destruction of the whole. It is therefore the duty of church members, in such times and places where counsel may be had, to consult with the church whereof they are members about their removal, that accordingly they, having their approbation, may be encouraged, or otherwise desist. They who are joined with consent, should not depart without consent, except forced thereunto.

Heb. 10: 25. Prov. 11: 16.

2. If a member's departure be manifestly unsafe and sinful, the church may not consent thereunto; for in so doing, they should not act in faith, and should partake with him in his sin. If the case be doubtful, and the person not to be persuaded, it seemeth best to leave the matter unto God, and not forcibly to detain him.

Rom. 14:23. 1 Tim. 5:22. Acts 21: 14.

3. Just reasons for a member's removal of himself from the church, are, 1. If a man cannot continue without partaking in sin. 2. In case of personal persecution; so Paul departed from the disciples at Damascus. Also in case of general persecution, when all are scattered. 3. In case of real, and not only pretended want of competent subsistence, a door being opened for better supply in another place, together with the means of spiritual edification. In these, or like cases, a member may lawfully remove, and the church cannot lawfully detain him.

Eph. 5:11. Acts 8: 1. 9:25, 29, 30. Neh. 13: 20.

4. To separate from a church, either out of contempt of their holy fellowship, or out of covetousness, or for greater enlarge