The major proposition is evident in itself:  For, 1.  The power of church government in this or that subject is not natural, but positive; and cast upon man, not by natural, but by positive law, positive grant:  men are not bred, but made the first subject of such power; therefore all such power claimed or exercised, without such positive grant, is merely without any due title, imaginary, usurped, unwarrantable, in very fact null and void. 2.  All power of church government is radically and fundamentally in Christ, Isa. ix. 6; Matt, xxviii. 18; John v. 22.  And how shall any part of it be derived from Christ to man, but by some fit intervening mean betwixt Christ and man?  And what mean of conveyance betwixt Christ and man can suffice, if it do not amount to an authentic grant or commission for such power? 3.  This is evidently Christ’s way to confer power by authentic commission immediately upon his church officers, the apostles and their successors, to the world’s end.  “Thou art Peter; and I give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven,” &c., Matt. xvi. 18, 19.  “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth,” &c., Matt, xviii. 19, 20.  “As my Father sent me, so send I you; go, disciple ye all nations; whose sins ye remit, they are remitted—­and lo, I am with you always to the end of the world,” John xx. 21, 23; Matt, xxviii. 19, 20.  “Our power, which the Lord hath given us for edification,” 2 Cor. x. 8, and xiii. 10:  so that we may conclude them that have such commission to be the first subject and immediate receptacle of power from Christ, as will after more fully appear. 4.  If no such commission be needful to distinguish those that have such power from those that have none, why may not all without exception, young and old, wise and foolish, men and women, Christian and heathen, &c., equally lay claim to this power of church government?  If not, what hinders?  If so, how absurd!

The minor proposition, viz:  But the community of the faithful, or body of the people, have not this power conveyed to them by any authentic grant or commission, is firm.  For whence had they it?  When was it given to them?  What is the power committed to them?  Or in what sense is such power committed to them?

1.  Whence had they it? From heaven or of men? If from men, then it is a human ordinance and invention; a plant which the heavenly Father hath not planted; and therefore shall he plucked up.  Matt. xv. 13.  If from heaven, then from Christ; for all power is given to him, Matt, xxviii. 18, &c.; Isa. ix. 6.  If it be derived from Christ, then it is derived from him by some positive law of Christ as his grant or charter.  A positive grant of such power to select persons, viz. church officers, the Scripture mentions, as was evidenced in the proof of the major proposition.  But touching any such grant or commission to the community of the faithful, the Scripture is silent.  And let those that are for the popular power produce, if they can, any clear scripture that expressly, or by infallible consequence, contains any such commission.