, Rom. xii. 7, 8; Eph. iv. 11.
The Church and people are _catechized_, Gal. vi. 6; _taught_. Hath not
he that _catechizeth_ power for government of him that is _catechized_?
He that _teacheth_ of him that is _taught_?

5. They are _co-workers_ with God, 1 Cor. iii. 9; 2 Cor. vi. 1.
_Architects, builders_, &c., 1 Cor. iii. 10; some of them _laying the
foundation, others building thereupon_. The Church and people of God are
God's building. "Ye are God's building," 1 Cor. iii. 9. Have not
_builders_ power of disposing and ordering affairs appertaining to the
_building_?

6. Finally, to add no more, the officers of Christ in the Church are not
only as _nurses_; "We _were_ gentle among you, even as a nurse
cherisheth her children," 1 Thess. ii. 7: and as _mothers_; "My little
children, of whom I travail in birth again," Gal. iv. 19: but also as
_fathers_, 1 Thess. ii. 11; 1 Cor. iv. 15, spiritual fathers in Christ:
and the Church and people of God, they are the _sons_ and _daughters_,
the spiritual _babes_ and _children_, begotten, brought forth, and
nursed up by them, 1 Thess. ii. 7, 11; Gal. iv. 19: and have fathers no
authority nor power of government over their children? See Eph. vi. 1-3;
1 Tim. iii. 4.

Thus Christ's officers stand in such relation to the Church as do
evidently carry power of government along with them; but where are any
other members of the church besides officers, stated in such relation of
_pastors, stewards, overseers, catechizers, builders, husbandmen,
nurses, mothers_, and _fathers_ to the Church of God and members of
Christ, that can be evidenced by the Scriptures? Why may we not then
clearly conclude,

_Conclusion_. Therefore the officers of Christ are the only subjects of
ecclesiastical power.

_Argum_. V. The many divine commands and impositions of duties of
obedience, submission, subjection, &c., upon the Church and people of
God, to be performed by them to Christ's officers, and that in reference
to their office, do plainly proclaim the officers of Christ to be the
proper receptacle and subject of authority and power from Christ for the
government of his Church. Thus it may be argued:

_Major_. Whatsoever persons they are to whom the Church and people of
God are peculiarly bound by the commands of Christ, to perform duties of
obedience and subjection, and that in reference to their office in the
church, they are the only subjects of authority from Christ for the
government of his Chu