rdination of a particular church to greater assemblies,
consisting of divers choice members, taken out of several single
congregations: which assemblies have authoritative power and
ecclesiastical jurisdiction over that particular church, by way of
giving sentence in and deciding of causes ecclesiastical. For
confirmation of this assertion, thus:

_Argum_. I. The light of nature may be alleged to prove, that there
ought to be this subordination: this is warranted not only by God's
positive law, but even by nature's law. The church is a company of
people who are not outlawed by nature. The visible church being an
ecclesiastical polity, and the perfection of all polity, doth comprehend
in it whatsoever is excellent in all other bodies political. The church
must resemble the commonwealth's government in things common to both,
and which have the same use in both. The law of nature directs unto
diversities of courts in the commonwealth, and the greater to have
authority over the lesser. The church is not only to be considered as
employed in holy services, or as having assemblies exercised in
spiritual things, and after a spiritual manner, but it is also to be
considered as consisting of companies and societies of men to be
regularly ordered, and so far nature agreeth to it, that it should have
divers sorts of assemblies, and the lower subordinate to the higher.
That particular parts should be subject to the whole for the good of the
whole, is found necessary both in bodies natural and politic. Is the
foot to be lanced? though it have a particular use of its own, and a
peculiar employment, yet it is to be ordered by the eye, the hand, and
the rest. Kingdoms have their several cities and towns, which all have
their governments apart by themselves; yet for the preservation of the
whole, all join together in the Parliament. Armies and navies have their
several companies and ships, yet in any danger every particular company
and ship is ordered by the counsels and directions of the officers and
guides of the whole army or navy. The Church is spiritual, but yet a
kingdom, a body, an army, &c. D. Ames himself affirms that the light of
nature requires that particular churches ought to combine in synods for
things of greater moment. The God of nature and reason hath not left in
his word a government against the light of nature and right reason.
Appeals are of divine and natural right, and certainly very necessary in
every society, bec