perience tells us, that the multitude of the people are generally
destitute of such knowledge, wisdom, prudence, learning, and other
necessary qualifications for the right carrying on of church government.

_Conclusion_. Therefore Christ makes not the community of the faithful
the first subject of the power of church government.

_Argum_. IV. The community of the faithful are nowhere in the word
called or acknowledged to be church governors: therefore they are not
the first subject of church government.

_Major_. Those persons, who are the first subject and receptacle of
proper power for church government from Christ, are in the word called
and acknowledged to be church governors. This is evident, 1. By
Scripture, which is wont to give to them whom Christ intrusts with his
government, such names and titles as have rule, authority, and
government engraven upon them: as _overseers_, Acts xx. 28;
_governments_, 1 Cor. xii. 28; _rulers_, 1 Tim. v. 17, and Rom. xii. 8;
with divers others, as after will appear in Chap. XI. 2. By reason,
which tells us that government and governors are relative terms; and
therefore to whom government belongs, to them also the denominations of
governors, rulers, &c., do belong, and not contrariwise.

_Minor_. But the community of the faithful are nowhere in the word
either called or acknowledged to be church governors. This is clear.
For, 1. No titles or names are given them by Scripture which imply any
rule or government in the visible Church of Christ. 2. They are plainly
set in opposition against, and distinction from, church governors: they
are called the _flock_; these, _overseers_ set over them by the Holy
Ghost, Acts xx. 28: they, _the saints_; these _their rulers_, Heb. xiii.
22: these are _over them in the Lord_; and consequently they are _under
them in the Lord_, 1 Thes. v. 12. 3. The community of the faithful are
so far from being the subject of church government themselves, that they
are expressly charged by the word of Christ to _know, honor, obey_, and
_submit_, to other governors set over them, and distinct from
themselves. "Know them who are over you in the Lord," 1 Thes. v. 12.
"Let the well-ruling elders be counted worthy of double
honor; especially," &c., 1 Tim. v. 17. "Obey ye your rulers, and submit,
for they watch for your souls," Heb. xiii. 17.

_Conclusion_. Therefore the community of the faithful are not the first
subject and receptacle of proper power for church go