The power of Congregational churches asserted and vindicated in answer to a treatise of…

The second Text is in Mat. 18.17, 18. Tell the Church, &, if he hear not the Church, let him be as an Heathen and a Publican. For what you shall bind on Earth, shall be bound in Heaven, &c. This cannot be meant of Elders assembling together, and acting apart from the Brethren. For no such assembly is called the Church, in the New Testament, much less is this power given to them: for, in case of scandal given by them, they are under the power of the whole Church, as well as other Members, to be censured by them; though, when they keep the Rule, they are as Elders, Rulers in the Church. It must therefore be meant of a Congregational-Church. The third Text is in 1 Cor. 5. where Paul exhorted the Church at Corinth, to exercise this their power, which he calls the power of the Lord Jesus, v. 4. whereby they were to deliver unto Satan that incestuous person; v. 5. and were to purge out the old leaven; v. 7. and were to judge those that are within; v. 12. and to put away that wicked person from among them; v. 13. and this Paul calls a punishment ⟨p. 101⟩inflicted by many, 2 Cor. 2.6. Thus he establisheth their power to bind, and teacheth them how to use it; and, in like manner, he exhorteth them, upon the mans repentance, to turn the Key, and to open the Door of Christian liberties to him, and to loose him from the former censure, by forgiving him, in a legal or judicial sense, 2 Cor. 2.7, 10. And that this Church at Corinth was a mere Congregational-Church, it may be evinced from hence, that the whole Church was no larger, then was wont to meet together in one place, 1 Cor. 14.23. for the ordinary worship of God.

The second Text is in Mat. 18.17, 18. Tell the Church, &, if he hear not the Church, let him be as an Heathen and a Publican. For what you shall bind on Earth, shall be bound in Heaven, &c. This cannot be meant of Elders assembling together, and acting apart from the Brethren. For no such assembly is called the Church, in the New Testament, much less is this power given to them: for, in case of scandal given by them, they are under the power of the whole Church, as well as other Members, to be censured by them; though, when they keep the Rule, they are as Elders, Rulers in the Church. It must therefore be meant of a Congregational-Church. The third Text is in