nod commands abstinence _from blood, and
things strangled_, and that necessarily, (though the Levitical law was
now abrogated,) because the common use thereof by accident grew very
scandalous: therefore, by the law of charity, the use of Christian
liberty is to be suspended, when otherwise the scandal of my brother is
endangered; yet from any ground of equity to have provided such a
particular rule as this, without such a case occurring, would scarce
have been possible. Now the synod saith of this determination, "It
seemed good unto the Holy Ghost, and unto us," Acts xv. And another
synod, walking by the like light and rule of the Scripture as they did,
may say of themselves as the apostles said.

PART II.

OF THE NATURE OF THAT CHURCH GOVERNMENT WHICH IS OF DIVINE RIGHT,
ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE.

CHAPTER I.

_The Description of Church Government._

The nature of that church government which is of divine right according
to Scripture, comes next to be considered; (having so fully seen what
the nature of a divine right is, and how many several ways matters in
religion may be said to be of divine right.) For the fuller and clearer
unfolding whereof, let us first see how church government may be
described; and then how that description may be explained and justified
by the word of God, in the branches of it.

Church government may be thus described:

Church government is a power[13] or authority spiritual,[14] revealed in
the holy Scriptures,[15] derived from Jesus Christ[16] our Mediator,[17]
only to his own officers, and by them exercised in dispensing of the
word,[18] seals,[19] censures,[20] and all other ordinances of
Christ,[21] for the edifying of the Church of Christ.[22]

This description of church government may be thus explained and proved.
Three things are principally considerable herein, viz: 1. The thing
defined, or described, viz. church government. 2. The general nature of
this government which it hath in common with all other governments, viz.
power or authority.

3. The special difference whereby it is distinguished from all other
governments whatsoever. Herein six things are observable. 1. The special
rule, wherein it is revealed, and whereby it is to be measured, viz. the
holy Scriptures. 2. The proper author, or fountain, whence this power is
derived, viz. from Jesus Christ our Mediator, peculiarly. 3. The special
kind of this power or authority, viz. it is a spiritual power, it