The Reconciliation of this Seeming Contradiction were obvious and easy; take the words as they stand in the Scheme; for so it might be said, Brethren, are sometimes put for private members of the Church, and Contradistinguished from such as bear office in the Church. As when it is said in the Synodical Letter (Act. ⟨p. 5⟩15. 23.) The Apostles, Elders, and Brethren. Sometimes Brethren are put more generally, as Comprehending all the members of the Church, both officers and private members as Gal. 6. 1: and frequently else where: In the former Sense, the Passage in the Keys speaketh, when it saith, the sense of the words will be most full, if Peter be conceived as Receiving the Keys in the Name both of the officers, and private members, to wit, in the Name of the Apostles, Elders, and Brethren. In the latter sense, the words of the Scheme might be taken to Run, That the Power of the keys was given to Peter, not as an Apostle (for then it had been Given only to the Apostles:) nor as an Elder (for then it had been only to Elders) but as a Profest Believer. And under the General Name of Profest Believers, not only private Brethren, but Apostles, and Elders may be comprehended. For all the Apostles & all the Elders are profest Believers: ⟨p. 6⟩And so all of them may claim their Interest in the Power of the keys, according to the several measure and latitude of Power assigned to them in the Scriptures. But I will not so answer; because in the Way the context speaketh of such Brethren, as have not power to exercise the Pastoral Ministry of the word & Sacraments. But notwithstanding that the Assoilment of the contradiction is no less fair and clear. For Mr Cawdrey well knoweth (and so doth any Logician:) That to a contradiction, It is a necessary Requisite (amongst others:) That both speak ad Idem. But here it is otherwise. In the keys I spake of such a power of the keys, as Peter Received Formally, standing in the room both of an Apostle and of an Elder, and of a Profest Believer: that is, such a Power as Peter having Received might exercise in his own person, and each one of them respectively. In the Way, I spake of such a power, as the Brethren of the Church ⟨p. 7⟩have Received not formally (farther than concerneth their own liberty) but virtually only.
The Reconciliation of this Seeming Contradiction were obvious and easy; take the words as they stand in the Scheme; for so it might be said, Brethren, are sometimes put for private members of the Church, and Contradistinguished from such as beare office in the Church. As when it is said in the Synodicall Letter (Act. ⟨p. 5⟩15. 23.) The Apostles, Elders, and Brethren. Sometimes Brethren are put more generally, as Comprehending all the members of the Church, both officers and private members as Gal. 6. 1: and frequently else where: In the former Sence, the Passage in the Keyes speaketh, when it saith, the sense of the words will be most full, if Peter be conceived as Receiving the Keyes in the Name both of the officers, and private members, to wit, in the Name of the Apostles, Elders, and Brethren. In the latter sense, the words of the Scheme might be taken to Runne, That the Power of the keyes was given to Peter, not as an Apostle (for then it had been Given only to the Apostles:) nor as an Elder (for then it had been only to Elders) but as a Profest Believer. And under the Generall Name of Profest Believers, not only private Brethren, but Apostles, and Elders may be comprehended. For all the Apostles & all the Elders are profest Believers: ⟨p. 6⟩And so all of them may claime their Interest in the Power of the keyes, according to the severall measure and latitude of Power assigned to them in the Scriptures. But I will not so answer; because in the Way the context speaketh of such Brethren, as have not power to exercise the Pastoral Ministry of the word & Sacraments. But notwithstanding that the Assoylment of the contradiction is no lesse faire and cleare. For Mr Cawdrey well knoweth (and so doth any Logician:) That to a contradiction, It is a necessary Requisite (amongst others:) That both speake ad Idem. But here it is otherwise. In the keyes I spake of such a power of the keyes, as Peter Received Formally, standing in the roome both of an Apostle and of an Elder, and of a Profest Believer: that is, such a Power as Peter having Received might exercise in his own person, and each one of them respectively. In the Way, I spake of such a power, as the Brethren of the Church ⟨p. 7⟩have Received not formally (farther than concerneth their own liberty) but virtually only.
