This collation of spiritual gifts and abiHties for office by Jesus Christ unto any doth not immediately constitute all those, or any of them, officers in the church, on whom they are collated, without the observation of that method and order which he hath appointed in the church for the communication of office-power ; yet is it so pre- requisite thereunto, that no person not made partaker of them in the measure before mentioned can, by virtue of any outward rite, order, or power, be really vested in the ministry.
3. This communication of office-power on the part of Christ con- sists in his institution and appointment of the way and means whereby persons gifted and qualified by himself ought to be actually admitted into their offices, so as to administer the powers and perform the duties of them ; for the way of their call and ordination, whereof we shall speak afterward, is efficacious unto this end of communi- cating office-power merely from his institution and appointment of it, and what is not so can have no causal influence into the com- munication of this jDower. For although sundry things belonging hereunto are directed by the light of nature, as it is that where one man is set over others in power and authority, which before he had no natural right unto, it should be by their own consent and choice; and some tilings are of a moral nature, as that especial prayer be used in and about affairs that need especial divine assistance and favour; and there may be some circumstances of outward actions herein not to be determined but by the rule of reason on the present posture of occasions, — yet nothing bath any causal influence into the
OF THE POLITY, ETC., OF THE CHURCH IN GENERAL. S9
communication of office-power but what is of the institution and appointment of Christ. By virtue hereof, all that are called unto this office do derive all their power and authority from him alone.
4. He hath hereon given commands unto the whole church to submit themselves unto the authority of these officers in the dis- charqeof their office, who are so appointed, so prepared or qualified, so called by himself, and to obey them in all things, according unto the limitations which himself also hath given unto the power and authority of such officers; for they who are called unto rule and authority in the church by virtue of their office are not thereon ad- mitted unto an unlimited power, to be exercised at their pleasure in a lordly or despotical manner, but their power is stated, bounded, limited, and confined, as to the objects of it, its acts, its manner of ad- ministration, its ends, and as unto all things wherein it is concerned. The swelling over these banks by ambition, the breaking up of these bounds by pride and love of domination, by the introduction of a power over the persons of men in their outward concerns, exercised in a legal, coercive, lordly manner, are sufficient to make a forfeiture of all church-power in them who are guilty of them. But after that some men saw it fit to transgress the bounds of power and authority prescribed and limited unto them by the Lord Christ, — which was really exclusive of lordship, dominion, and all elation above their brethren, leaving them servants to the church for Christ's sake, — they began to prescribe bounds unto themselves, such as were suited unto their interest, which they called rules or canons, and never left en- larging them at their pleasure until they instated the most absolute tyranny in and over the church that ever was in the -world.
By these ways and means doth the Lord Christ communicate office- power unto them that are called thereunto ; whereon they become not the officers or ministers of men, no, not of the church, as unto the actings and exercise of their authority, but only as the good and edification of the church is the end of it, but the officers and minis- ters of Christ himself.
It is hence evident, that, in the communication of church-iDower in office unto any persons called thereunto, the work and duty of the church consists formally in acts of obedience unto the commands of Christ. Hence it doth not give unto such officers a power or authority that was formally and actually in the body of the com- munity by virtue of any grant or law of Christ, so as that they should receive and act the power of the church by virtue of a delega- tion from them; but only they design, choose, and set apart the indi- vidual persons, who thereon are intrusted with office-power by Christ himself, according as was before declared. This is the power and right given unto the church, essentially considered, with respect unto the ir officers, — namely, to design, call, choose, and set apart, the per-
40 TRUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
sons, by the ways of Christ's appointment, unto those offices wliere- unto, by his laws, he hath annexed church j^ower and authority.
We need not, therefore, trouble ourselves Avith the disputes about the first subject of church-power, or any part of it; for it is a certain rule, that, in the jjerformance of all duties which the Lord Christ requires, either of the whole church or of any in the church, espe- cially of the officers, they are the first subject of the j^oiuer needful unto such duties who are immediately called tinto them. Hereby all things come to be done in the name and authority of Christ; for the power of the churcli is nothing but a right to perform church- duties in obedience unto the commands of Christ and according unto his mind. Wherefore all church-power is originally given unto the church essentially considered, which hath a double exercise; — first, in the call or choosing of officers; secondly, in their volun- tary acting with them and under them in all duties of rule. 1. All authority in the church is committed by Christ unto the officers or rulers of it, as unto all acts and duties whereunto office-power is required; and, 2. Every individual person hath the liberty of his own judgment as unto his own consent or dissent in what he is him- self concerned.