Acts iv. 32. For these
affections and actions of kindness belonged to them by the law of
brotherhood and Christian charity to one another, (especially
considering the then present condition of believers,) rather than by any
special ecclesiastical obligation, because they were members of such a
church. 2. Not in regard of any explicit church covenant, knitting them
in one body. For we find neither name nor thing, print nor footstep of
any such thing as a church covenant in the church of Jerusalem, nor in
any other primitive apostolical church in all the New Testament; and to
impose an explicit church covenant upon the saints as a necessary
constituting form of a true visible Church of Christ, and without which
it is no Church, is a mere human invention, without all solid warrant
from the word of God. 3. Not in regard of the ministration of the word,
sacraments, prayers, &c. For these ordinances were dispensed in their
single congregations severally, it being impossible that such multitudes
of believers should meet all in one congregation, to partake of them
jointly, (as hath been evidenced.) 4. But in regard of one joint
administration of church government among them, by one common
presbytery, or college of elders, associated for that end. From this one
way of church government, by one presbytery in common, all the believers
in Jerusalem, and so in other cities respectively, were counted but one
church. 2. In every such presbyterial church made up of divers single
congregations, there were ecclesiastical ruling officers, which are
counted or called the officers of that church, but never counted or
called governors, elders, &c., of any one single congregation therein;
as in the church of Jerusalem, Acts xi. 27, 30, and xv. 2: of Antioch,
compare Acts xiii. 1-3, with xv. 35: of Ephesus, Acts xx. 17, 28: and of
the church of Corinth, 1 Cor. i. 12, and iv. 15, and xiv. 29.

3. The officers of such presbyterial churches met together for acts of
church government: as, to take charge of the church's goods, and of the
due distribution thereof, Acts iv. 35, 37, and xi. 30: to ordain,
appoint, and send forth church officers, Acts vi. 2, 3, 6, and xiii. 1,
3: to excommunicate notorious offenders, 1 Cor. v. 4, 5, 7, 13, compared
with 2 Cor. ii. 6: and to restore again penitent persons to church
communion, 2 Cor. ii. 7-9.

_Except_. Receiving of alms is no act of government.

_Ans_. True, the bare receiving of alms is no act of go