ting as a ruling elder, did he not apprehend the word of God holds
forth a divine right for the ruling elder? Who durst have a hand in the
censures of admonishing the unruly, excommunicating the scandalous and
obstinate, and of restoring the penitent, were there not a divine right
hereof revealed in the Scripture, &c. Now, therefore, that ruling
elders, and the rest of the people, may begin this happy work
conscientiously, judiciously, cheerfully, in some measure perceiving the
divine right of the whole government, wherein they engage themselves,
cleared by Scripture, we hope, by God's blessing, that this small tract
will afford some seasonable assistance, which will be unto us a very
acceptable recompense.

Thus far of the nature of this treatise, and the grounds of our
publishing thereof. In the next place, a few doubts or scruples touching
church government here asserted, being succinctly resolved, we shall
preface no further.

_Doubt_ 1. Many scruple, and much question the divine right of the whole
frame of church government; as, 1. Whether there be any particular
church government of divine right? 2. What that government is? 3. What
church officers or members of elderships are of divine right? 4. Whether
parochial or congregational elderships be of divine right? 5. Whether
classical presbyteries be of divine right? 6. Whether provincial,
national, and ecumenical assemblies be of divine right? 7. Whether
appeals from congregational to classical, provincial, national, and
ecumenical assemblies, and their power to determine upon such appeals,
be of divine right? 8. Whether the power of censures in the
congregational eldership, or any other assembly, be of divine right? 9.
Whether there be any particular rules in the Scripture directing persons
or assemblies in the exercise of their power? 10. Whether the civil
magistrates, or their committees' and commissioners' execution of church
censures be contrary to that way of government which Christ hath
appointed in his Church?

_Resol_. To all or most of these doubts some competent satisfaction may
be had from this treatise ensuing, if seriously considered. For, 1. That
there is a church government of divine right, now under the New
Testament, declared in Scripture, is proved, Part I. 2. What that
government is in particular, is evidenced both by the description of
church government, and the confirmation of the parts thereof by
Scripture, Part. II. chap. 1, and so to the