hedge. Her members are still a mixture of tares and wheat; of
sheep and goats: so that there is still a necessity of discerning
between the precious and the vile; of trying and censuring false
teachers; and of guarding divine ordinances from contempt and pollution.
As Jesus gives the New Testament Church the peculiar title of the
_kingdom of heaven_, he could not, in a consistency with his wisdom,
leave it without any particular laws or form of government, except the
changeable inclinations of men. As he was faithful in his New Testament
house, he must fix a particular form of government for her, such as
tends to her peace, order, and spiritual edification. And, amidst the
prophet's vision of the New Testament Church, he is directed to teach
his people _the form of the house, the laws of the house_, &c., Ezek.
xliii. 11.

_Quest_. When may a particular form of church government be said to be
of divine right?

_Ans_. When all the parts thereof are agreeable to Scripture precepts;
to approved Scripture examples; or are deducible by fair Scripture
consequences.

_Quest_. How does it appear, that Scripture consequences are to be
admitted to prove any particular truth or doctrine?

_Ans_. Because God has formed man a rational intelligent creature,
capable of searching out the plain meaning and import, and also the
necessary consequences of his express declarations. We find Christ
reasoning by a deduction of consequences, when he showed that the
doctrine of the resurrection was revealed to Moses at the burning bush;
that the sixth commandment forbids angry words; and the seventh
lascivious looks, Luke xx. 37, 38; Matt. v. 21, 28. And a great part of
the inspired epistles to the Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews consists in
such a deduction of consequences. And as all Scripture is said to be
profitable "for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for
instruction in righteousness," 2 Tim. iii. 16, without a rational
deduction of consequences, every portion of Scripture cannot answer each
of these valuable ends.

_Quest_. What particular form of church government may lay the only
proper claim to a divine right, according to the Holy Scriptures?

_Ans_. The true presbyterian form, without that lordly dominion and
tyrannical power, which has too often been exercised by courts, bearing
this name. This government claimeth no power over men's bodies or
estates. It does not inflict civil pains or corporal punishments. But it
i