7.  Spiritual also is this power in the scope and end of it.  This the Scripture frequently inculcates:  e.g. a brother is to be admonished privately, publicly, &c., not for the gaining of our private interests, advantages, &c., but for the gaining of our brother, that his soul and conscience may be gained to God and to his duty, and he be reformed, Matt, xviii. 15.  The incestuous person is to be “delivered to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus,” 1 Cor. v. 5; yea, the whole authority given to church guides from the Lord was given to this end, for the edification, not the destruction of the Church, 2 Cor. x. 8, and xiii. 10; all which, and such like, are spiritual ends.  Thus the power of church government here described is wholly and entirely a spiritual power, whether we respect the rule, root, matter, form, subject, object, or end thereof.  So that in this respect it is really and specifically distinct from all civil power, and in no respect encroacheth upon, or can be prejudicial unto the magistrate’s authority, which is properly and only political.

2.  The power or authority of church government is a derived power.  For clearing this, observe, there is a magisterial primitive supreme power, which is peculiar to Jesus Christ our Mediator, (as hath been proved, chap.  III. and V:) and there is a ministerial, derivative, subordinate power, which the Scripture declares to be in church guides, Matt. xvi. 19, and xviii. 18; John xx. 21, 23; Matt, xxviii. 19, 20; 2 Cor. x. 8, and xiii. 10, and often elsewhere this is abundantly testified.  But whence is this power originally derived to them?  Here we are carefully to consider and distinguish three things, touching this power or authority from one another, viz:  1st.  The donation of the authority itself, and of the offices whereunto this power doth properly belong. 2d.  The designation of particular persons to such offices as are vested with such power. 3d.  The public protection, countenancing, authorizing, defending, and maintaining of such officers in the public exercise of such power within such and such realms or dominions.  This being premised, we may clearly thus resolve, according to scripture warrant, viz. the designation or setting apart of particular individual persons to those offices in the Church that have power and authority engraven upon them, is from the church nominating, electing, and ordaining of such persons thereunto, see Acts iii. 1-3; 1 Tim. iv. 14, and v. 22; Tit. i. 5; Acts iv. 22.  The public protection, defence, maintenance, &c., of such officers in the public exercise of the power and authority of their office in such or such dominions, is from the civil magistrate, as the nursing-father of the Church, Isa. xlix. 23; for it is by his authority and sanction that such public places shall be set apart for the public ministry, that such maintenance and reward shall be legally performed for such a ministry,