38 A cnfISTIAly euvacn. place and hour of meeting, the chusing a president, the method and order of their religious exercises, &c. These must be agreed, or at least consented to, by the society itself. A judge in a court, or a magistrate in a city, has no power to make any new late : His business is only toexplain and apply in general the laws that are made according to the best of his understanding: And after all, it isa jury of twelve men, in our national courts of justice, that determines theaflair with regard to particular things or persons. So ministers in the church are not lords or sove- reigns in Christ's 'kingdom : They,- in their highest charac- ter, can be supposed to be set up but as judges, to explain his laws, and apply them to rising occasions, and shew men how to do all things decently and orderly ; 1 Cor. xii. 40. but in many cases of church affairs, it is the people that must actually apply them to particular persons or occurrences. Ministers have not any dominion given them, either over our faith or practice. It may be observed also, that the names which are given to ministers in scripture, do not signify sovereign rule and autho- rity : Their name is ministers, or servants, and they are never called lords, or commanders, but leaders,presidents, stewards, shepherds, teachers, elders, overseers, &c. all which intimate a limited authority, and not supreme power*. But as many writers among the puritans and non-conform- ists have handled this matter abundantly in the last age, so the reverend and learned bishop Hoadley, in latter years, has hap- pily laboured to guard this prerogative of Christ to make laws in his own church, from the usurpations of men ; and'therefore I insist no further on this particular. Though the scripture be silent about the extent of the power of particular bishops or elders in a church, yet some may say, does not the light of nature teach us, that many grave and wise persons, the bishops and elders of many churches, meeting together in a synod, or solemn council, may join and make laws, or constitutions, for all the churches under their care? And are not the churches bound to obey? First, I answer : I. It is granted, that the light of nature would lead the wisest persons sometimes to meet together for mutual advice and * Governments is the strongest word of authority used to denote an office in the christian church, and that is but one t Cor. xii. SS, And soma learned men are of opinion, this name signifiesdeacons, whose government reached not to the faith or conscience, list they distributed and disposed of the money wisely, which the helps just before mentioned, that is, men of wealth and goodness, gave toward the support of the-poor. See Mr. Chandler's Commentary on Joel, page 150. Qr if these governments imply high authority and power, let it be remem- bered, it is only mentioned as an office in the days of inspiration, and is joined with apostles, prophets, evangelists, gifts of tongues, &c.
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