ch government, nor may lawfully, by any virtue of
the magistratical office, dispense any ecclesiastical censures or
ordinances: but that such undertakings are inconsistent with that way of
government which Christ hath appointed in his Church, is evidenced, Part
II. chap. 9, well compared with chap. 11.

_Doubt_ 2. But this presbyterial government is likely to be an arbitrary
and tyrannical government, forasmuch as the presbyters of the assembly
of divines and others (who, Diotrephes-like, generally affect
domineering) have desired an unlimited power, according to their own
judgments and prudence, in excommunicating men from the ordinances in
cases of scandal.

_Resol_. A heinous charge, could it be proved against the presbyterial
government. Now for wiping off this black aspersion, consider two
things, viz: I. The imputation itself, which is unjust and groundless;
II. The pretended ground hereof, which is false or frivolous.

I. The imputation itself is, that the presbyterial government is likely
to be an arbitrary and tyrannical government. _Ans_. How unjust this
aspersion! I. What likelihood of arbitrary conduct in this government,
that is, that it should be managed and carried on according to men's
mere will and pleasure? For, 1. The presbyterial government (truly so
called) is not in the nature of it any invention of man, but an
ordinance of Christ; nor in the execution of it to be stated by the will
of man, but only by the sure word of prophecy, the sacred Scriptures.
This government allows not of one church officer at all; nor of one
ruling assembly made up of those officers; nor of one censure or act of
power to be done by any officer or assembly; nor of one ordinance to be
managed in the Church of God, but what are grounded upon, and warranted
by the word of God. This government allows no execution of any part
thereof, neither in substantials, nor circumstantials, but according to
the particular, or at least, the general rules of Scripture
respectively. And can that be arbitrary, which is not at all according
to man's will, but only according to Christ's rule, limiting and
ordering man's will? Or is not the Scripture a better and safer
provision against all arbitrary government in the Church, than all the
ordinances, decrees, statutes, or whatsoever municipal laws in the world
of man's devising, can be against all arbitrary government in the
commonwealth? Let not men put out their own eyes, though others would