hip, discipline
and government,"--the words "discipline" and "government" must needs have
the same sense thus far, that it is a church discipline and a church
government distinct from the civil power of the magistrate, and distinct
also from doctrine and worship in the church; for we cannot make these
words, "discipline" and "government," in one and the same article of a
solemn oath and covenant, to suffer two senses differing _toto genere_
(especially considering that the civil government is put by itself in
another article, which is the third), unless we make it to speak so as
none may understand it.

The other argument which I now add is this. In the third part of that
first article we swear that we "shall endeavour to bring the churches of
God in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in
religion, confession of faith, form of church government, directory for
worship and catechising," where, 1. Church government doth agree
generically with a confession of faith, directory of worship, and
catechising. I mean all these are matters of religion, none of them civil
matters. 2. It is supposed there is such a thing as church government
distinct from civil government, and therefore it is put out of all
question, that so far there shall be an uniformity between the churches of
God in the three kingdoms (and otherwise it were an unswearing of what was
sworn in the first part of that article), but it tieth us to endeavour the
nearest conjunction and uniformity "in a form of church government;" which
were a vain and rash oath, if we were not tied to a church government in
general, and that as a matter of religion. 3. The uniformity in a form of
church government which we swear to endeavour must needs be meant of
corrective government; it being clearly distinguished from the confession
of faith and directory of worship. So that Mr Coleman's distinction of the
doctrinal part, and of the dispensing of the word and sacraments, cannot
here help him.

From these two arguments (beside all was said before) I conclude that the
covenant doth undeniably suppose, and plainly hold forth this thing as
most necessary and uncontrovertible, that there ought to be a church
government which is both distinct from the civil government, and yet not
merely doctrinal. And if so, what Apollo can reconcile Mr Coleman's
doctrine with the covenant? And now I go on.

My last reason formerly brought was this: "Will the brother say tha