articularly and peculiarly applied unto them by the word of
Christ; they are the only subjects of power from Christ for the
government of his Church:

This proposition is evident: For, 1. How should it be consistent with
the infinite wisdom of God peculiarly to apply unto them directions
about ruling and governing the church that are not the only subjects in
whom the power of government is intrusted by Jesus Christ? 2. How can it
stand with the justice of God to encourage them only unto well-ruling,
by commendations, promises, rewards, &c., or to deter them from
ill-governing by dispraises, threats, &c., &c., to whom the power of
government doth not appertain, as to the only subjects thereof? 3. What
strange apprehensions and distractions would this breed in the hearts of
Christ's officers and others, should those that have not the power of
church government committed to them by Christ, be yet directed by his
word how to govern, encouraged in governing well, and deterred from
governing ill?

_Minor_. But the officers of Christ in the church have directions for
church government, encouragements to well-ruling, and discouragements
from ill-ruling, particularly and peculiarly applied unto them by the
word of God.

This assumption or minor proposition may be cleared by divers Scriptures
according to the particular branches thereof, viz:

1. Directions for church government are particularly applied by the word
of Christ to his own officers: as for instance, they are directed to
_bind and loose_--to _remit_ and _retain sins on earth_, Matt. xvi. 19,
and xviii. 18; John xx. 21, 23. _To judge them that are within the_
Church, _not without_, 1 Cor. v. 12. _Not to lord it, domineer_, or
_overrule the flock of Christ_, 1 Pet. v. To _rule well_, 1 Tim. v. 17.
To rule _with diligence_, Rom. xii. 8. To _lay hands suddenly on no man,
neither to be partakers of other men's sins, but to keep themselves
pure_, 1 Tim. v. 22. _Not to prefer one before another, nor do anything
by partiality_, 1 Tim. v. 21. _To rebuke them that sin before all, that
others also may fear_, 1 Tim. v. 20. _To reject a heretic after once or
twice admonition_, Tit. iii. 10. To use the _authority that is given
them from the Lord to the edification, not to the destruction_ of the
Church, 2 Cor. x. 8, and xiii. 10; with divers such like rules specially
directed to Christ's officers.

2. Encouragements to well-ruling are peculiarly directed to Christ's
officers.