It is thought by our Brethren, that the Church of ⟨p. 54⟩believers is the first seat, the prime subject, and head fountain under Jesus Christ, to whom the keys are given, and that howbeit all offices and officers be only of Christs institution, yet the Church of believers do as the Spouse and Mistress, and bride of Christ communicate the lawful exercise of some acts of the keys, as to preach, administer the Sacraments, oversee the conversation of the flock, care for the poor to some certain men, as her deputies and servants with borrowed authority from her self, as the Well-head and prime fountain under Christ of all the authority and use of the keys that is in the officers of the House,1 as Pastors,2 Doctors and Elders, the Church still keeping in her own hands authority and power of the keys in most material acts of the power of the keys, as by these keys to ordain and elect all the officers, and in case of aberration or failing to censure, depose, excommunicate them, and all members of the visible Church, and that independently, and without any subordination to Presbyteries, Classes and Synods; even as the kingly power of actual government is in the Kings hand, and he appointeth deputies and servants under himself, and in his name and authority, to do and execute his will, according to the Laws of the Kingdom, so doth the Church of believers under Christ by an inbred authority and power received from Christ, send out Pastors, Doctors, and Elders in her name and authority to exercise certain ministerial acts, yet so as the Church of believers in all the acts performed by the officers, remaineth the principal and prime agent, cause and actor under Christ, and the officers only her servants, deputies and instruments, performing all by authority borrowed from her the bride, Queen and Spouse of Christ: This they believe to be contained in the Scriptures, and taught by Fathers and Doctors of the Church. I deny not but by the faculty of Paris, this question was agitated in the Council of Basil and Constance, ⟨p. 55⟩to bring the Pope as a son and servant under the power of a General Council. The Sorbonists and Doctors of Paris, that are not near the smoke of the Popes glory, for this, contend with the Jesuits, men that are sworn bellies to the world and the Pope. The Parisians cite the Council of Carthage, where Augustine was present:
It is thought by our Brethren, that the Church of ⟨p. 54⟩believers is the first seat, the prime subject, and head fountaine under Jesus Christ, to whom the keyes are given, and that howbeit all offices and officers be only of Christs institution, yet the Church of believers doe as the Spouse and Mistresse, and bride of Christ communicate the lawfull exercise of some acts of the keyes, as to preach, administer the Sacraments, oversee the conversation of the flock, care for the poore to some certain men, as her deputies and servants with borrowed authority from her selfe, as the Well-head and prime fountain under Christ of all the authority and use of the keyes that is in the officers of the House,1 as Pastors,2 Doctors and Elders, the Church still keeping in her own hands authority and power of the keyes in most materiall acts of the power of the keyes, as by these keyes to ordain and elect all the officers, and in case of aberration or failing to censure, depose, excommunicate them, and all members of the visible Church, and that independently, and without any subordination to Presbyteries, Classes and Synods; even as the kingly power of actuall government is in the Kings hand, and he appointeth deputies and servants under himself, and in his name and authority, to do and execute his will, according to the Laws of the Kingdom, so doth the Church of believers under Christ by an imbred authority and power received from Christ, send out Pastors, Doctors, and Elders in her name and authority to exercise certain ministeriall acts, yet so as the Church of believers in all the acts performed by the officers, remaineth the principall and prime agent, cause and actor under Christ, and the officers only her servants, deputies and instruments, performing all by authority borrowed from her the bride, Queen and Spouse of Christ: This they believe to be contained in the Scriptures, and taught by Fathers and Doctors of the Church. I deny not but by the faculty of Paris, this question was agitated in the Councell of Basil and Constance, ⟨p. 55⟩to bring the Pope as a sonne and servant under the power of a Generall Councell. The Sorbonists and Doctors of Paris, that are not near the smoake of the Popes glory, for this, contend with the Jesuites, men that are sworne bellies to the world and the Pope. The Parisians cite the Councell of Carthage, where Augustine was present:
- 1Facultas Paris. de polit. Eccle•. pag. 1 2 an 16•2
- 2Vulgare est atque indul•tatum •ides axioma Deum & naturam, prius atque immediatius ad totum suppositum, quam ad aliquam partem supposits, quamvis nobilissimam intendere, eamque ob causam fecultatem vi le•di. e. g. to•t d•tamesse homini, ut per ••ulum ta•quam per organ•• & •••• sirum hominis exercer•u•, •amoculus per & propter homin•• •xi••it Schola Pa•i siensi• hoc infallibili […] firmamento, congruenter ad mentem om•iū ora•quorum d•ctorum Ecclesiae perp•tuo, constanter• docuit, Christum fundando Ecclesiam prius, immediatius atque essentials u• claves se•••tsdictionem toti dedisse Ecclesiae quam Petro, ut per unum ministry •liter exercerentur & pag. 2. probant per textum, 1 Cor. 3. Omnia vestra sunt. Vide 16 page 3, 4. pag. 7. pag 19 & express pag 6. Potestas essentiali•er Ecclesiae collata est, gubernatoribus quoad exercitium, Parisie pag. 3•. Aug ad Matt 1
