A37205:126
The power of Congregational churches asserted and vindicated in answer to a treatise of…
The power of Congregational churches asserted and vindicated in answer to a treatise of Mr. J. Paget entitled The defence of church-government exercised in classes and synods / by John Davenport.The power of Congregational churches asserted and vindicated in answer to a treatise of Mr. J. Paget intituled The defence of church-government exercised in classes and synods / by John Davenport.
London: printed for Rich. Chiswell and to be sold by John Usher of Boston, 1672
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.
Answ. 1. The three former Texts speak of the Apostles and Evangelists Office, and in them, of Pastors and Teachers, not of Ruling-Elders. But, I suppose they will not deny the Ruling-Elders to have a Key of Office also. The last Text proveth only, that the Key sometimes signifies Office-power given to a Steward, which none deny. But this toucheth not this Text, Mat. 16. which means not only Office-Power, but all Power, which serves to shut and open the House or City of God; not power of the Steward only, but the power of the Spouse and Wife of this great King, to whom the Lord Christ, as her Husband, being gone into a far Country, ⟨p. 82⟩even to Heaven, hath given power to admit into the Family, and reject, as occasion shall require, and for those ends, to judge also; because such acts require judgment, and to call the Steward to his place, and to put him into it, and to put a Key of Office, by Election, into his hand: and therefore, though all power be not formally in her, yet it cometh originally from her.
Answ. 1. The three former Texts speak of the Apostles and Evangelists Office, and in them, of Pastors and Teachers, not of Ruling-Elders. But, I suppose they will not deny the Ruling-Elders to have a Key of Office also. The last Text proveth only, that the Key sometimes signifies Office-power given to a Steward, which none deny. But this toucheth not this Text, Mat. 16. which means not only Office-Power, but all Power, which serves to shut and open the House or City of God; not power of the Steward only, but the power of the Spouse and Wife of this great King, to whom the Lord Christ, as her Husband, being gone into a far Country, ⟨p. 82⟩even to Heaven, hath given power to admit into the Family, and reject, as occasion shall require, and for those ends, to judge also; because such acts require judgment, and to call the Steward to his place, and to put him into it, and to put a Key of Office, by Election, into his hand: and therfore, though all power be not formally in her, yet it cometh originally from her.