3. The Author saith, believers may not administer the Sacraments in the defect of Pastors, because that, by appointment of Christ, belongeth only to such as by Office are called to preach the Gospel, Math. 28. 29. which is indeed well said; but I desire to be satisfied in these. 1. These places Math. 28. 29. Mar. 16. 14, 15. Luke 24. 28. being all one with Math. 16. 17. and Joh. 20. 21, 22, 23. The Keys of the Kingdom are given to Church-officers because of their Office. So the Text is clear, and so the ancients have taught, as Tertullian, Irenaeus, Origen, Cyril. Theophylact. Oecum•nius▪ Clemens Alexandrin▪ Justin Martyr, Chrysost. August. Hilarius, Ambrose, Basil. Epiphanius, Jerome, Eusebius, Cyprian, Damascene, Bede, Anselm, Bernard. So our Divines, Calvin, Luther, Beza, Martyr, Junius, Bullinger, Gualt•r, Daneus, Ti•enus, Bucanus, Trelcatius, Piscator, Pareus, Tossanus, Polanus, Decolampadius, Bucer, Hipperius, Viret, Zuinglius, Fennerus, Whittakerus, Feildus, Reynoldus, Anto. Wallaeus, Profess. Leydens. Magdeburgersis, Melanchthon, Chemnitius, Hemingius, Aretius. Then the Keys be given to Church-officers, because they are Officers, and Stewards of the Kingdom. And you will have the Keys to be given to believers as believers, and as the Spouse of Christ. Now Elders and believers may be opposed, as believers and no believers, as the Church of the redeemed, and not the Church of the redeemed, but the accidents only of that Church; as you teach, and as the Spouse of Christ and his body, and not the Spouse nor his body. I see not by our brethren's doctrine that Officers as Officers have any right title or ⟨p. 194⟩warrant to the Keys, or to any use of them, seeing they are given to believers as believers, and as Christs body and Spouse. 2. The place Matth. 28. 19. is against you; for you say, that Pastoral preaching and administration of the Seals are given only to such as are Preachers by office. Now the converting of infidels and other unbelievers, to make them fit materials of a visible Church, is not (as you say) the charge proper to Pastors as Pastors, and by virtue of their Pastoral charge, as baptizing; by this place is their proper charge, because Pastors as Pastors convert none at all, nor can they as Pastors exercise any pastoral acts toward the un-converted;
3. The Authour saith, believers may not administer the Sacraments in the defect of Pastors, because that, by appointment of Christ, belongeth onely to such as by Office are called to preach the Gospell, Math. 28. 29. which is indeed well said; but I desire to be satisfied in these. 1. These places Math. 28. 29. Mar. 16. 14, 15. Luke 24. 28. being all one with Math. 16. 17. and Joh. 20. 21, 22, 23. The Keyes of the Kingdome are given to Church-officers because of their Office. So the Text is cleare, and so the ancients have taught, as Tertullian, Irenaeus, Origen, Cyrill. Theophylact. Oecum•nius▪ Clemens Alexandrin▪ Iustin Martyr, Chrysost. August. Hilarius, Ambrose, Basil. Epiphanius, Ierome, Eusebius, Cyprian, Damascen, Beda, Anselme, Bernard. So our Divines, Calvin, Luther, Beza, Martyr, Iunius, Bullinger, Gualt•r, Daneus, Ti•enus, Bucanus, Trelcatius, Piscator, Pareus, Tossanus, Polanus, Decolampadius, Bucer, Hipperius, Viret, Zuinglius, Fennerus, Whittakerus, Feildus, Reynoldus, Anto. Wallaeus, Profess. Leydens. Magdeburgersis, Melanthon, Chemnitius, Hemingius, Aretius. Then the Keyes be given to Church-officers, because they are Officers, and Stewards of the Kingdome. And you will have the Keyes to be given to believers as believers, and as the Spouse of Christ. Now Elders and believers may be opposed, as believers and no believers, as the Church of the redeemed, and not the Church of the redeemed, but the accidents onely of that Church; as you teach, and as the Spouse of Christ and his body, and not the Spouse nor his body. I see not by our brethrens doctrine that Officers as Officers have any right title or ⟨p. 194⟩warrant to the Keyes, or to any use of them, seeing they are given to believers as believers, and as Christs body and Spouse. 2. The place Matth. 28. 19. is against you; for you say, that Pastorall preaching and administration of the Seales are given onely to such as are Preachers by office. Now the converting of infidels and other unbelievers, to make them fit materials of a visible Church, is not (as you say) the charge proper to Pastors as Pastors, and by vertue of their Pastorall charge, as baptizing; by this place is their proper charge, because Pastors as Pastors convert none at all, nor can they as Pastors exercise any pastorall acts toward the un-converted;
