Obj. The Keys were given to the Church in Peter, Mat. 16.] Ans. *1. The most learned and moderate of these Brethren2 say, that There is no such thing as a Lawful Representative Church, therefore Peter was none. 2. It lieth on them to prove that Peter represented the Major3 Vote of a Congregation, in receiving the Keys. Till they have proved it, we take them to have said nothing. It sufficeth us for a disproof. 1. That no such thing is spoken. 2. That the Keys of the Kingdom, are in Scripture phrase significant of Stewardly Government, which is in Scripture assigned to the Pastors over the people. 3. That Peter was not a private Member himself, much less a Congregation; but a Pastor, and a single Pastor, Bishop or Apostle. 4. That the same power is elsewhere given to all the Apostles, (John 20. 21.) but not to private Members, or to Congregations of such. 5. That John 20, 21, 22. the power is ⟨p. 26⟩described to be a power of Remitting and Retaining Sins, annexed to their Ministerial Mission, and therefore such as belongeth not to private Men.4
Obj. The Keys were given to the Church in Peter, Mat. 16.] Ans. *1. The most learned and moderate of these Brethren2 say, that There is no such thing as a Lawful Representative Church, therefore Peter was none. 2. It lyeth on them to prove that Peter represented the Major3 Vote of a Congregation, in receiving the Keys. Till they have proved it, we take them to have said nothing. It sufficeth us for a disproof. 1. That no such thing is spoken. 2. That the Keys of the Kingdom, are in Scripture phrase significant of Stewardly Government, which is in Scripture assigned to the Pastors over the people. 3. That Peter was not a private Member himself, much less a Congregation; but a Pastor, and a single Pastor, Bishop or Apostle. 4. That the same power is elsewhere given to all the Apostles, (Iohn 20. 21.) but not to private Members, or to Congregations of such. 5. That Iohn 20, 21, 22. the power is ⟨p. 26⟩described to be a power of Remitting and Retaining Sins, annext to their Ministerial Mission, and therefore such as belongeth not to private Men.4
- *Mr. Norton p. 45. [Sin per Ecclesiam Representtaivam intelligitur Ecclesia talis proprie dicta▪ h. e. Ecclesia virtualis, vice-Ecclesia, Ecclesiam repraesentatam subjectivè repraesentans, atque ad•o vi delegationis habens potestatem •arum negotia ex•quendi jure D•i; hoc sensu simpliciter negamus Ecclesiam repraesentativam.]Mr. Norton p. 45. [Sin per Ecclesiam Representtaivam intelligitur Ecclesia talis proprie dicta▪ h. e. Ecclesia virtualis, vic•-Ecclesia, Ecclesiam repraesentatam subjectivè repraesentans, atque ad•o vi delegationis habens potestatem •arum negotia ex•quendi jure D•i; hoc sensu simpliciter negamus Ecclesiam repraesentativam.]
- 2P. 4. Their Power of Choosing is a Power about the Keys, but not of the Keys: And it is common to all Believers who are not to take Pastors as the Market goeth upon a blind hearsay, &c.P. 4. Their Power of Chusing is a Power about the Keys, but not of the Keys: And it is common to all Believers who are not to take Pastors as the Market goeth upon a blind hearsay, &c.
- 3It's commonly granted them, that the people regularly should choose their Officers, where some unfitness of their own doth not forbid it; but that necessarily they must consent to his Relation, or else he cannot Exercise his Office on them. And it is granted them commonly [according to Cyprian's words,] that the people also have a great hand in the Rejection of unworthy Pastors, and that in case they prove intolerable, and they have no more regular way to depose them, after sufficient patience and warning they must forsake them. But none of these are Acts of Church Government no more than for a Corporation to choose the Major, or for the Servant while he is Free to choose his Master, or a Scholar his School-master, or a Patient his Physician, or for the Soldiers to forsake a Traitorous Commander that would deliver up their lives unto the Enemy. It's one thing to be a Church Governor, and another thing to choose or refuse a Church Governor.It's commonly granted them, that the people regularly should chuse their Officers, where some unfitness of their own doth not forbid it; but that necessarily they must consent to his Relation, or else he cannot Exercise his Office on them. And it is granted them commonly [according to Cyprian's words,] that the people also have a great hand in the Rejection of unworthy Pastors, and that in case they prove intolerable, and they have no more regular way to depose them, after sufficient patience and warning they must forsake them. But none of these are Acts of Church Government no more than for a Corporation to chuse the Major, or for the Servant while he is Free to chuse his Master, or a Scholar his School-master, or a Patient his Physicion, or for the Soldiers to forsake a Traiterous Commander that would deliver up their lives unto the Enemy. It's one thing to be a Church Governor, and another thing to chuse or refuse a Church Governor.
