1. It is the very nature and substance of the Office of a Presbyter to have the power of the Keys for binding or loosing, retaining, or remitting sin: which therefore together, or apart, as there is occasion, they are bound to exercise. And this being the Institution of Jesus Christ, cannot be altered by man. In their Ordination, according to the established Order in England, it is said [Whose sins thou dost remit they are remitted, whose sins thou dost retain they are retained.] And they are commanded to minister the Doctrine, Sacraments, and Discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded, and as this Realm hath received the same, as expressly as the Bishops are. And as the late Primate of Ireland observeth in his Reduction, that they may the better understand what the Lord hath commanded, the Exhortation of S. Paul to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus is appointed to be read to them at the time of their Ordination: Take heed to your selves, and to all the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers, to feed (or rule) the Congregation of God which he hath purchased with his blood. And it is apparent in this Acts 20.17, 18, 28. Act. 14.23. Act. 15. —1 Thes. 5.12, 13. 1 Tim. 3, 4, 5. 1 Tim. 5.17. Heb. 13.7, 17, 24. and other places, that it is the Office of a Presbyter to over-see, rule, and guide the Flock with that Ministerial Rule which consisteth in the exercise of the Keys, or management, or personal application of Gods Word to the consciences and cases of particular persons, for their salvation, and order of the Church; the Coercive power belonging to the Magistrate. And this was the practice of the ancient Church, as appeareth undeniably in Ignatius, Tertullian, Cyprian, Jerome, Chrysostom, &c. Concil. Carthag. 4 Can. 22, 23, 29, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37. And is confessed by the chiefest Defenders of Episcopacy.
1. It is the very nature and substance of the Office of a Presbyter to have the power of the Keys for binding or loosing, retaining, or remitting sin: which therefore together, or apart, as there is occasion, they are bound to exercise. And this being the Institution of Jesus Christ, cannot be altered by man. In their Ordination, according to the established Order in England, it is sayd [Whose sins thou dost remit they are remitted, whose sins thou dost retain they are retained.] And they are commanded to minister the Doctrine, Sacraments, and Discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded, and as this Realm hath received the same, as expresly as the Bishops are. And as the late Primate of Ireland observeth in his Reduction, that they may the better understand what the Lord hath commanded, the Exhortation of S. Paul to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus is appointed to be read to them at the time of their Ordination: Take heed to your selves, and to all the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers, to feed (or rule) the Congregation of God which he hath purchased with his blood. And it is apparent in this Acts 20.17, 18, 28. Act. 14.23. Act. 15. —1 Thes. 5.12, 13. 1 Tim. 3, 4, 5. 1 Tim. 5.17. Heb. 13.7, 17, 24. and other places, that it is the Office of a Presbyter to over-see, rule, and guide the Flock with that Ministerial Rule which consisteth in the exercise of the Keys, or management, or personal application of Gods Word to the consciences and cases of particular persons, for their salvation, and order of the Church; the Coercive power belonging to the Magistrate. And this was the practice of the ancient Church, as appeareth undeniably in Ignatius, Tertullian, Cyprian, Jerome, Chrysostome, &c. Concil. Carthag. 4 Can. 22, 23, 29, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37. And is confessed by the chiefest Defenders of Episcopacy.
