endeavour the reformation of religion in the kingdoms of
England and Ireland, in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government,
according to the word of God, and the example of the best reformed
churches. Where observe,

1. The extirpation of church government is not the reformation of it. The
second article is indeed of things to be extirpated; but this of things to
be preserved and reformed. Therefore as by the covenant Prelacy was not to
be reformed, but to be abolished, so, by the same covenant, church
government was not to be abolished, but to be reformed.

2. Church government is mentioned in the covenant as a spiritual, not a
civil thing. The matters of religion are put together--doctrine, worship,
discipline, and government; the privileges of Parliament come after, in
the third article.

3. That clause, "According to the word of God," implieth, that the word of
God holdeth forth such light unto us as may guide and direct us in the
reformation of church government.

4. And will the brother say that the example of the best reformed churches
leadeth us his way; that is, to have no church government at all distinct
from the civil government?

And so much concerning his third rule.

The fourth was this: "A Christian magistrate, as a Christian magistrate,
is a governor in the church." And who denieth this? The question is,
Whether there ought to be no other government in the church beside that of
the Christian magistrate. That which he driveth at is, That the Christian
magistrate should leave no power of spiritual censures to the elderships.
He would have the magistrate to do like the rich man in the parable, who
had exceeding many flocks and herds, and yet did take away the little
ewe-lamb from the poor man, who had nothing save that. The brother saith,
"Of other governments besides magistracy, I find no institution; of them I
do, Rom. xiii. 1, 2." I am sorry he sought no better, else he had found
more. Subjection and obedience is commanded, as due not only to civil but
to spiritual governors, to those that are over us in the Lord, 1 Thess. v.
12; so, 1 Tim. v. 17, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of
double honour;" Heb. xiii. 7, "Remember them which have the rule over you,
who have spoken unto you the word of God;" ver. 17, "Obey them that have
the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls."
And what understandeth he by "he that ruleth," Rom. xii. 8? If the
judgment of