thus much may be superadded. 1.
What necessity is there that a particular congregation should be fully
furnished with officers, to make it the subject of all church authority?
For deacons are one sort of officers, yet what authority is added to the
Church by the addition of deacons, whose office it is only to serve
tables, Acts vi., not to rule the Church? or if the Church have no
deacons, as once it had not, Acts i. 2, and before that, all the time
from Christ, wherein is she maimed or defective in her authority? 2. If
the Church, fully furnished with officers, yet walk not in judgment and
peace, then in such case it is granted, that a particular congregation
is not the first subject of all church authority. Then a congregation
that walks in error or heresy, or passion, or profaneness, all which are
contrary to judgment; and that walks in divisions, schisms, contentions,
&c., which are contrary to peace, loseth her authority. Stick but close
to this principle, and you will quickly lay the church authority of most
independent congregations in the dust. But who shall determine whether
they walk in judgment and peace, or not? Not themselves; for that were
to make parties judges in their own case, and would produce a very
partial sentence. Not sister churches; for all particular churches,
according to them, have equal authority, and none may usurp one over
another. Not a presbyterial church, for such they do not acknowledge.
Then it must be left undetermined, yea undeterminable, (according to
their principles;) consequently, who can tell when they have any
authority at all? 3. Suppose the congregation had all her officers, and
walked in judgment and peace also, yet is she not the first subject of
all authority; for there is a synodal authority, beyond a congregational
authority, as confessed by Mr. Cotton.[100]

II. As for the proofs of this proposition asserted here, they seem
extremely invalid and unsatisfying. For,

The instance of the church of Corinth excommunicating the incestuous
person, will not prove the congregation to be the first subject of all
church authority: 1. Partly, because the church of Corinth was a
presbyterial church, having several congregations in it, (as hereafter
is evidenced, chap. XIII.;) now to argue from the authority of a
presbyterial church, to the authority of a congregational,
affirmatively, is not cogent. 2. Partly, because here were but two acts
of power mentioned in this instance, viz