ne another
disservice to the magistrate, in making the magistracy to be below and
behind the ministry. The Apostle puts them in this order: "God hath set
some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers,
after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments," &c. How
makes the brother this to agree with his interpretation.

Next, He citeth Eph. i. 21-23, to prove that all government is given to
Christ, and to him as Mediator; and Christ, as Head of these, given to the
church. But this place maketh more against him than for him; for the
Apostle saith not that Christ is given to the church as the Head of all
principalities and powers. The brother saith so; and, in saying so, he
makes Christ a head to those that are not of his body.

The Apostle saith far otherwise: That God gave Christ "to be the head over
all things to the church, which is his body;" which the Syriac readeth
more plainly,--"And him who is over all he gave to be the head to the
church." He is a head to none but the church; but He who is head to the
church "is over all, God blessed for ever," Rom. ix. 5; yea, even as a
man, he is over or above all. The very human nature of Christ which was
raised from the dead, being set at the right hand of the Majesty of God,
is exalted to a higher degree of honour and glory than either man or angel
ever was, or ever shall he; so that He that is head of the church is over
all, because he doth not only excel his own members, but excel all
creatures that ever God made. It is one thing to say that Christ is
exalted to a dignity, excellency, pre-eminence, majesty, and glory, far
above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion; another thing
to say that Christ is head of all principalities and governments, and, as
Mediator, exerciseth his kingly office over these. The Apostle saith the
former, but not the latter.

Shall I need to illustrate this distinction? Is there anything more known
in the world? Will any say that he who excels other men in dignity,
splendour, honour, and glory, must therefore reign and rule over all those
whom he thus excels?

The Apostle saith indeed, in another sense, that Christ "is the head of
all principality and power," Col. ii. 10. But that is spoken of Christ not
as he is Mediator, but only as he is God; and the Apostle's meaning in
those words is nothing but this: That Christ is true God, saith Tossanus;
that he is omnipotent, saith Gualther; that h