Jesus Christ our Mediator hath _the government_ (both of the Church, and of all things for the Church) laid _upon his shoulder_, Isa. ix. 6, and to that end hath _all power in heaven and earth given to him_, Matth. xxviii. 18, John v. 22, Ephes. i. 22. But lapsed man (being full of pride, Psal. x. 2, 4, and enmity against the law of God, Rom. viii. 7) is most impatient of all government of God and of Christ, Ps. ii. 1, 2, 3, with Luke xix. 14, 27; whence it comes to pass, that the _governing_ and _kingly power_ of Christ hath been opposed in all ages, and especially in this of ours, by quarrelsome queries, wrangling disputes, plausible pretences, subtle policies, strong self-interests, and mere violent wilfulness of many in England, even after they are brought under the _oath of God to reform church government according to the word of God_. Yet it will be easily granted _that there should be a government in the Church of God_, otherwise the Church would become a mere _Babel_ and _chaos_ of confusion, and be in a far worse condition than all human societies in the whole world: and _that some one church government is much to be preferred before another, yea, before all other_; as being most desirable in itself, and most suitable to this state; otherwise, why is the _Prelatical_ government rejected, that another and a better may be erected instead thereof? But the pinch lies in this, _Whether there be any government in the Church visible of divine right?_ And, if so, _which of those church governments_ (which lay claim to a divine right for their foundation) _may be most clearly evinced by the Scriptures to be of_ divine right _indeed?_ If the former be convincingly affirmed, the fancy of the _Erastians_ and _semi-Erastians_ of these things will vanish, that deny all government to the Church distinct from that of the civil magistrate. If the latter be solidly proved by Scripture, it will appear, whether the _monarchical government_ of the pope and prelates; or the _mere democratical government_ of all the people in an equal level of authority, as among the Brownists; or the _mixed democratical government_ of both elders and people within their own single congregation only, without all subordination of Assemblies, and benefit of appeals, as among the Independents; or rather the _pure representative government_ of the presbytery or church rulers only, chosen by the people, in subordination to superior synodical assemblies, and with appeals thereto, as it is among the Presbyterians, be that peculiar government which Jesus Christ hath left unto his church, by divine right, and in comparison of which all others are to be rejected. To draw things therefore to a clear and speedy issue about the divine right of church government, let this general proposition be laid down-- _The Scriptures declare, That there is a government of_ DIVINE RIGHT _in the visible Church of Christ now under the New Testament._