executes all authority, commanding or punishing only in its own name, in name of the supreme magistrate, as of the king, &c., but ecclesiastical power is wholly exercised, not in the name of churches, or officers, but only in Christ’s name, Matt, xxviii. 19; Acts iv. 17; 1 Cor. v. 4.  The magistrate can delegate his power to another:  church-governors cannot delegate their power to others, but must exercise it by themselves.  The magistrate about ecclesiasticals hath power to command and compel politically the church officers to do their duty, as formerly was evidenced; but cannot discharge lawfully those duties themselves, but in attempting the same, procure divine wrath upon themselves:  as Korah, Numb. xvi.; King Saul, 1 Sam. xiii. 9-15; King Uzziah, 2 Chron. xxvi. 16-22:  but church-guides can properly discharge the duties of doctrine, worship, and discipline themselves, and ecclesiastically command and compel others to do their duty also.

4.  Lastly, They differ in their final cause or ends.  The magistratical power levels at the temporal, corporal, external, political peace, tranquillity, order, and good of human society, and of all persons within his jurisdiction, &c.  The ecclesiastical power intends properly the spiritual good and edification of the Church and all the members thereof, Matt, xviii. 15; 1 Cor. v. 5, &c.; 2 Cor. x. 8, and xiii. 10.[34] May we not from all clearly conclude, Therefore no proper ecclesiastical power was ever given by Jesus Christ to the magistrate as a magistrate?

Argum. 4th.  The civil magistrate is no proper church officer, and therefore cannot be the proper subject of church power, Hence we may argue: 

Major.  All formal power of church government was derived from Jesus Christ to his own proper church officers only.  To them he gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven, Matt. xvi. 19, and xviii. 18; John xx. 21, 28:  to them he gave the authority for edification of the church, 2 Cor. x. 8, and xiii. 10:  but this will after more fully appear in Chap.  XI. following.

Minor.  But no civil magistrate, as a magistrate, is any of Christ’s proper church officers.  For, 1.  The civil magistrate is never reckoned up in the catalogue, list, or roll of Christ’s church officers in Scripture, Eph. iv. 10-12; 1 Cor. xii. 28, &c.; Rom. xii. 6-8; if here, or anywhere else, let the magistrate or the Erastians show it. 2.  A magistrate, as a magistrate, is not a church member, (much less a church governor;) for then all magistrates, heathen as well as Christian, should be church members and church officers, but this is contrary to the very nature of Christ’s kingdom, which admits no heathen into it.

Conclusion.  Therefore no formal power of church government was derived from Jesus Christ to the magistrate as a magistrate.

Argum. 5th.  The civil magistrate, as such, is not properly subordinate to Christ’s mediatory kingdom; therefore is not the receptacle of church power from Christ.  Hence thus: