A26911:268
The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter…
The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter of their nonconformity against Mr. J. Cheney's answer called The conforming nonconformist, and The nonconforming conformist : to which is added the second part in answer to Mr. Cheney's Five undertakings / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Benjamin Alsop, 1680
A DEFENCE OF THE NON-CONFORMIST'S Plea for Peace, AGAINST Mr. J. CH… › Chapter 21
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But the Power of the Church is a power of judging what individual persons are fit or unfit for Baptism, the Eucharist, Church Entrance, and Church Communion, is the Church is the Porch of Heaven, and as a preparation to the final judgment. And it is not another sort, but this sort which the Lay-Chancellor pretendeth to exercise in the Bishop's name.
I have been thought by some to give my self too much to Magistrates in Church-matters: But I am far from your mind, for the reasons following.
1. It is notorious, that in Scripture Christ hath instituted a special Office to use these Keys, and do this work, which he would not have done, had he left it common to any others.
2. The Power of the Keys is so much of the essential comprehensive title of that Office, as that it is nullified when it is made common.