, and therefore the
disquisition of this matter will unavoidably be the more.

For perspicuity herein, seeing it is said that this power is derived
from Christ only to his own officers; and by this word (only) all other
subjects are excluded; the subject of church power may be considered,
1. Negatively, what it is not. 2. Affirmatively, what it is.

Negatively, the proper subject unto whom Christ hath committed the power
of church government, and the exercise thereof, is not, 1. The political
magistrate, as the Erastians imagine. 2. Nor the body of the people,
either with their presbytery or without it, as the Separatists and
Independents pretend. Let these negatives first be evinced, and then the
affirmative will be more clearly evidenced.

Touching the first of these--that the political magistrate is not the
proper subject unto whom Jesus Christ our Mediator hath committed the
power of church government, and the exercise of that power; it will be
cleared by declaring these two things distinctly and severally, viz: 1.
What power about ecclesiasticals is granted to the civil magistrate. 2.
What power therein is denied unto him, and why.

SECTION 1.

Such power is granted by the reformed churches and orthodox writers to
the political magistrate, in reference to church affairs. Take it in
these particulars.

A defensive, protecting, patronizing power to the church, and all the
members thereof. "Kings shall be thy nursing-fathers," &c., Isa. xlix.
23. "The magistrate is the minister of God for good to well-doers, as
well as the avenger, executing wrath upon evil-doers; a terror not to
good works, but to the evil," Rom. xiii. 3, 4; he is called _an heir,
or, possessor of restraint, to put men to shame_, Judges xviii. 7. And
as the church ought to pray for kings and all in authority, so
consequently all in authority should endeavor to defend it, that the
church and people of God should lead a quiet and peaceable life, (under
the wing of their protection,) "in all godliness and honesty," 1 Tim.
ii. 2; and this is evident from the end and scope of these prayers here
prescribed, as interpreters unanimously agree. And hereupon are those
promises to the church, "The sons of strangers shall build up thy walls,
and their kings shall minister unto thee," Isa. lx. 10; "and thou shalt
suck the breast of kings," Isa. lx. 16. Now, this nursing, protecting
care of magistrates towards the church, puts forth itself in these or
lik