hem," &c. For the third, see Luke vi.
13, &c.: "And when it was day he called to him his disciples: and of
them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Simon--" Matt. x.
5-7, &c.: "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying."
And after his resurrection he enlarges their commission, Mark xvi. 15,
16: "Go ye into all the world;" and, "As my Father hath sent me, so send
I you," John xx. 21. See also how the Lord cast the lot upon Matthias,
Acts i. 24-26. Nor the second; for if such power be committed to the
community of the faithful after the apostles had established the
churches, then let those that so think show where Christ committed this
power first to the apostles, and after to the community of the faithful,
and by them or with them to their ordinary officers, for execution
thereof. But no such thing hath any foundation in Scripture; for the
ordinary Church guides, though they may have a designation to their
office by the church, yet they have the donation, or derivation of their
office and its authority only from Christ: their office is from Christ,
Ephes. iv. 8, 11; 1 Cor. xii. 28; Acts xx. 28, 29. Their power from
Christ, Matt. xvi. 19, and xxviii. 18, 19; John xx. 21, 23. "Our power
which the Lord hath given us," 2 Cor. viii. 10. They are _Christ's
ministers, stewards, ambassadors_, 1 Cor. iv. 1; 2 Cor. v. 19, 20. They
are to act and officiate _in his name_, Matt, xviii. 19; 1 Cor. v. 4, 5;
and to Christ they _must give an account_. Heb. xiii. 17, 18; Luke xii.
41, 42. Now if the ordinary officers have (as well as the apostles their
apostleship) their offices of pastor, teacher, &c., from Christ, and are
therein the successors of the apostles to continue to the world's end,
(Matt, xxviii. 18-20,) then they have their power and authority in their
offices immediately from Christ, as the first receptacles thereof
themselves, and not from the Church as the first receptacle of it
herself. A successor hath jurisdiction from him from whom the
predecessor had his; otherwise he doth not truly succeed him.
Consequently the Church or community of the faithful cannot possibly be
the first receptacle of the power of church government from Christ.

3. What power is it that is committed to the body of the Church or
multitude of the faithful? Either it must be the power of order, or the
power of jurisdiction. But neither of these is allowed to the multitude
of the faithful by the Scriptures, (but appointed and