ope and prelates; or the _mere democratical
government_ of all the people in an equal level of authority, as among
the Brownists; or the _mixed democratical government_ of both elders and
people within their own single congregation only, without all
subordination of Assemblies, and benefit of appeals, as among the
Independents; or rather the _pure representative government_ of the
presbytery or church rulers only, chosen by the people, in subordination
to superior synodical assemblies, and with appeals thereto, as it is
among the Presbyterians, be that peculiar government which Jesus Christ
hath left unto his church, by divine right, and in comparison of which
all others are to be rejected.

To draw things therefore to a clear and speedy issue about the divine
right of church government, let this general proposition be laid down--

_The Scriptures declare, That there is a government of_ DIVINE RIGHT _in
the visible Church of Christ now under the New Testament._

This is evident, 1 Cor. xii. 28, _God hath set some in the Church,
first, Apostles, secondly, Prophets, thirdly, Teachers--Helps,
Governments;_ in which place these things are plain: 1. That here the
Apostle speaks of the visible Church: for he had formerly spoken of
visible gifts and _manifestations of the Spirit given to profit this_
Church _withal_, ver. 7 to 12. He also compares this Church of God to a
visible organical body, consisting of many visible members, ver. 12, 13,
&c. And in this 28th verse he enumerates the visible officers of this
Church. 2. That here the Apostle speaks of one general visible Church;
for he saith not _churches_, but _church_, in the singular number, that
is, of one; besides, he speaks here of the Church in such a latitude as
to comprehend in itself all gifts of the Spirit, all members, and all
officers, both extraordinary and ordinary, which cannot be meant of the
church of Corinth, or any one particular church, but only of that one
general Church on earth. 3. That this general visible Church here meant,
is the Church of Christ now under the New Testament, and not under the
Old Testament; for he mentions here the New Testament officers only,
ver. 28. 4. That in the visible Church now under the New Testament,
there is a government settled; for besides _Apostles, Prophets_, and
_Teachers_, here is mention of another sort of officer distinct from
them all, called, in the abstract, _Governments_, a metaphor from
pilots, mariners, o