SECTION V. 33 against such a general agreement in things which are in them- selves indifferent; and which are left undetermined by the New Testament ; and which must be determined some way or other by the agreement of christians. But still I think it must be maintained, that though all the churches in a nation should be united and combined in this manner by their representatives, and call themselves one na- tional church, they could acquire no divine right or authority hereby, to impose any new doctrines or practices in religion, any creed, or articles, or canons, or rules of worship, of their own making, on any particular church or person whatso- ever, without their own consent. Neither the light of nature, nor the New Testament, so far as I can find, has given them any such power. IV. Scripture is also supposed to be silent how far the power and government of elders, or bishops, may extend, though it. calls them sometimes rulers, and requires the church to obey. Heb. xiii. 7. Remember them who have the rule over you, who have spoken toyou the wordof God. And verse 17. Obey them who have the ruleoveryou, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls. May they not therefore invent newceremonies of worship, and by their authority determine any of those matters in a christian society, which Christ has left undetermined in his word ? I answer, if scripture be silent herein, let all church-rulers take heed that they extend not this power beyondthe actual com- mission or grant of scripture. It is always safer in points of dominion, to confine one's self within the limits of the express grant or commission, than to go ever so little beyond it. When our natural ambition would tempt us to exceed these limits, our awe and dread of invading the province of Christ, should be an everlasting restraint. Besides, when neither the light of reason nor scripture gives sufficient evidence of any authority to assume such a power, why should it be assumed ? Rea- son tells us, that no man knows what rites or ceremonies will be pleasing to the great God, beyond the plain dictates of natural religion, unless God himself has revealed and required them. The great and blessed God, when he would be worshipped with a variety of outward rites, established a church in Judea, with a hundred ceremonies, and new forms of worship and order ; but he thought fit to abolish them again when the Mes- siah brought in his more spiritual kingdom, that is, the christian church. Now therein there are but two such ceremonies, ofmost plain and evident divine appointment; baptism and the Lord's- supper; or, if you will, add the observation of the Lord's-day. And it is not to be supposed that God would abolish and destroy Vox.. mv. C
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