were delivered to Satan, that they might learn not to blaspheme,” 1 Tim. i. 20:  more generally of the Church; thus the incestuous person was to be put away from among them lest the whole lump of the church should be leavened by him, 1 Cor. v. 3.  Absolution also is for edification, lest the penitent party “should be swallowed up of too much sorrow,” 2 Cor. ii. 7. 4.  All the officers of his Church are for edification of the Church, (Eph. iv. 7, 8, 11, 12, 16,) together with all the gifts and endowments in these officers, whether of prayer, prophecy, tongues, &c., all must be managed to edification.  This is the scope of the whole chapter. 1 Cor. xii. 7, &c., and 1 Cor. xiv. 3-5, 9, 12, &c., 26; read the whole chapter.  That passage of Paul is remarkable, “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue,” verses 18, 19.  Thus church government, and all sorts of ordinances, with the particular acts thereof, are to be levelled at this mark of edification.  Edification is an elegant metaphor from material buildings (perhaps of the material and typical temple) to the spiritual; for explanation’s sake briefly thus take the accommodation:  The architects, or builders, are the ministers, 1 Cor. iii. 10.  The foundation and corner-stone that bears up, binds together, and gives strength to the building, is Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. iii. 11; 1 Pet. ii. 4, 6.  The stones or materials are the faithful or saints, 2 Cor. i. 1.  The building, or house itself, is the Church, that spiritual house, and temple of the living God, Eph. ii. 21, and iv. 12; 1 Cor. iii. 9, 16, 17.  The edification of this house is gradually to be perfected more and more till the coming of Christ, by laying the foundation of Christianity, in bringing men still unto Christ, and carrying on the superstruction in perfecting them in Christ in all spiritual growth, till at last the top-stone be laid on, the Church completed, and translated to the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

CHAPTER IX.

Of the proper receptacle and distinct subject of all this power and authority of Church Government, which Christ hath peculiarly intrusted with the execution thereof according to the Scriptures.  And 1. Negatively, That the political magistrate is not the proper subject of this power.