A treatise of liturgies, power of the keys, and of matter of the visible…A treatise of liturgies, power of the keyes, and of matter of the visible…

First, concerning the first, to make our discourse more distinct and plain, we shall premise here, that we do not here at all take in, or respect that question about the power of the Keys, whether it be in the fraternity or guides, (we shall God willing have a fit place to speak something of it) but here (that we may not intermingle things) we look only at the true subject, in which, and unto which the actual and immediate dispensation and participation of Church government and outward ordinances is given by the institution of the Gospel. And here we first reason thus, Such a Church society as Christ instituted, the Apostles of Christ constituted and governed in: But the Apostles never constituted such a Catholic church society, or governed it in such a manner as is said: Ergo. The Proposition is evident, because the Apostles were to do whatsoever Christ commanded in Matth. 28. 20. and were sufficiently furnished with power and wisdom so to do: Besides, the Apostles having all power from Christ as he received from the Father, John 20. and the whole number of believers being then at the fewest, there was never since such an opportunity or possibility to constitute such a Church, if Christ Jesus had instituted such a thing. The assumption or second part of the reason is proved thus, If the Apostles ever constituted and administered in such a Church catholic, it was either that at Jerusalem mentioned Acts 1, & 2. &c. or that assembly that met, Acts 15. (for we meet with no other that can with any colour of reason be supposed) But neither of these were such a constituted Church; Ergo. 1 Concerning the Church named, Acts 1. carried on, Acts 2. &c. we freely grant it was a constituted Church, ⟨p. 89⟩wherein the Apostles with Elders and Deacons afterward chosen did govern, for as it is called a Church, Acts 2. 47. so likewise we see there were in it elections,