144 No other Church-ate new Form or State of Churches, Cuppoíedly fuited unto the Civil Intereft, which were never ordained or ap- pointed by Chrift. It hathnot I fay been difputed under thefe terms expretly, though really the- ubftance of the Controverfie lies therein. To atlèrt thisexpretly, would be to exalt him above Jefus Chrift ? at lealt togive him power equal unto his ; though really unto the In(titution of the Gospel Church date, and the .Communication of Graces, Offices, and Gifts to make it ufeful unto its end, no lefi than all power in Heaven and Earth be requi- red. Some plead that there is no certain Form of Church- Government appointed in the Scripture 9 that there was none ordained by Chrift , nor exemplifyed by theApo- files, and therefore it is in the power of the Magiftrate to appoint any fuck form thereof, as is fuited unto the publick Intereft. It would feem to followmore evident- ly, that no Forni at all Ihould by any be appointed, for what ¡bail he do that corneth after the King ? what (hall any one ordain in the Church , which the Lord Chrift thought not meet to ordain ? And this is the proper in- ference from this confederation : Such a Church-Govern- ment as men imagine, Chill hath not appointed; there- fore neither may men do fo. But Cuppofe that the Lord Chrift hath appointed a Church-ftate,or that there fhould be Churches of his Difciples on the Earth ; let them therein butyeild Obedience unto all that he hath com- manded ; and in their fo doing, make ufe of the light of nature , and rules of common prudence , Co as to do it unto their own edification,(which to 'deny tobe their du- ty , is to deftroy their nature as created of God) trulting in all things unto thecondu& of the promiCed Divine AC fRance of the Holy Spirit : ifany inftance canbe given of what is wanting unto the compleat Rate and Pule of the
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