M. 1. I confess that this is the first and most momentous part of the power of the Keys. But it tells us that it is not only Bishops that have that power: But either some-body or no body must have this power or trust.
1. If No-body; Turks, Heathens, Sadducees, any may be baptized tho' in scorn; and may be members of the Church at pleasure, and the Church shall indeed be no Church, being confounded with the World. A Parrot may be taught to say those words. A man of about 80 Years of age in the Parish where I taught, being asked who Jesus Christ was, pointed to the Sun and said, That was he; and asked, Wh was the Holy Ghost? Said, he thought the Moon. What wise man will be the Pastor of such a Church?
2. Christ hath instituted an Office for this judgment, and given them the Keys: Therefore there must be some such judge▪
2. If Some-body, who must it be? 1. If it be every expectant for himself, it will be as before; and there will be no Church. Any Heathen may come in. 2. If it must be the Magistrate, you call him to attend this Service, and to teach and try all that are baptized at age, and all Parents for their Children: And if you lay on him the Pastors Office, you make him Pastor. 3. If it must be the Bishop, it is impossible, and no Bishop will do it; when he doth not so much as know or see one of an hundred in his Diocese: It must then be the Parish-Minister, or No-body.
3. Those must be trusted with it whom Christ hath appointed for such trust: But that is the Ministers: To them he hath committed the Keys of his Church or Kingdom.
4. Those must be trusted with it, that must Execute it: It is the Minister that must Baptize: And therefore he must judge whom to baptize, or else he is but an Executioner, like one that washeth any one that's foul; and not a judge of what he doth, nor must answer for it.
5. The Universal Church ever since Christ's days hath agreed in this: And shall we now overthrow it?
And as to the exception against the Power of the Pastor. 1. All power may be abused; shall we have no King, no Judge, or Justice, or Bishops, because they may abuse their power?
2. It is so natural to men to consult their own carnal Interest, which will here most lie in pleasing the people, and slothfully to ⟨p. 247⟩omit so costly and troublesome a duty, that it's enough to foretell that a hundred will sin in making the door too wide, for one that maketh it too narrow;
M. 1. I confess that this is the first and most momentous part of the power of the Keys. But it tells us that it is not only Bishops that have that power: But either some-body or no body must have this power or trust.
1. If No-body; Turks, Heathens, Sadducees, any may be baptized tho' in scorn; and may be members of the Church at pleasure, and the Church shall indeed be no Church, being confounded with the World. A Parrot may be taught to say those words. A man of about 80 Years of age in the Parish where I taught, being ask'd who Iesus Christ was, pointed to the Sun and said, That was he; and ask'd, Wh was the Holy Ghost? Said, he thought the Moon. What wiseman will be the Pastor of such a Church?
2. Christ hath instituted an Office for this judgment, and given them the Keys: Therefore there must be some such judge▪
2. If Some-body, who must it be? 1. If it be every expectant for himself, it will be as before; and there will be no Church. Any Heathen may come in. 2. If it must be the Magistrate, you call him to attend this Service, and to teach and try all that are baptized at age, and all Parents for their Children: And if you lay on him the Pastors Office, you make him Pastor. 3. If it must be the Bishop, it is impossible, and no Bishop will do it; when he doth not so much as know or see one of an hundred in his Diocess: It must then be the Parish-Minister, or No-body.
3. Those must be trusted with it whom Christ hath appointed for such trust: But that is the Ministers: To them he hath commited the Keys of his Church or Kingdom.
4. Those must be trusted with it, that must Execute it: It is the Minister that must Baptize: And therefore he must judge whom to baptize, or else he is but an Executioner, like one that washeth any one that's foul; and not a judge of what he doth, nor must answer for it.
5. The Universal Church ever since Christ's days hath agreed in this: And shall we now overthrow it?
And as to the exception against the Power of the Pastor. 1. All power may be abused; shall we have no King, no Judge, or Justice, or Bishops, because they may abuse their power?
2. It is so natural to men to consult their own carnal Interest, which will here most lie in pleasing the people, and sloathfully to ⟨p. 247⟩omit so costly and troublesome a duty, that it's enough to foretell that a hundred will sin in making the door too wide, for one that maketh it too narrow;
