The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

1. THE Calling of Bishops, Pastors, Elders, is an Act of the power of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. But these Keys are originally and properly given unto the whole Church, unto the Elders of it only Ministerially; and as unto exercise Pastors are eyes to the Church: But God and Nature design in the first place, sight to the whole Body, to the whole Person, thereunto it is granted both subjectively and finally, but actually it is peculiarly seated in the eye. So is it in the grant of Church-Power, it is given to the whole Church, though to be exercised only by its Elders.

THAT the grant of the Keys unto Peter was in the Person and as the representative of the whole confessing Church, is the known judgment of Austin and a multitude of Divines that follow him. So he fully expresseth himself, Tractat. 124. in Johan. Peter the Apostle bare in a general figure the person of the Church. For as unto what belonged unto himself, he was by Nature one Man, by Grace one Christian, and of special more abounding Grace, one and the chief Apostle. But when it was said unto him, I will give unto thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, &c. he signified the whole Church, &c. Again, the Church which is founded in Christ, received from him in (the person of) Peter, the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, which is the power of binding and loosing.

UNTO whom these Keys are granted, they according to their distinct interests in that grant, have the Right and Power of Calling their Bishops, Pastors or Elders; for in the exercise of that Trust and Power, it doth consist. But this is made unto the whole Church. And as there are in a Church already constituted several sorts of persons, as some are Elders, others are of the people only, this Right resideth in them, and is acted by them according to their respective capacities, as limited by the light of nature and divine institution, which is, that the Election of them should belong unto the body of the people, and their Authoritative Designation or Ordination unto the Elders. And when in any place the supreme Magistrate is a Member or Part of the Church, he hath also his: peculiar Right herein.