The keys of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word…The keyes of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word…

If it be objected, private members may all of them prophesy publicly, 1 Cor. 14 31. and therefore also baptize: and so this act of Authority is not peculiar to preaching Elders.

If it be objected, private members may all of them prophecie publiquely, 1 Cor. 14 31. and therefore also baptize: and so this act of Authority is not peculiar to preaching Elders.

Ans. 1. The place in the Corinths doth not speak of ordinary private members, but of men furnished with extraordinary gifts. Kings at the time of their first Coronation give many extraordinary large gifts, which they do not daily pour out in like sort in their ordinary government. Christ soon after his ascension poured out a larger measure of his spirit then in times succeeding. The members of the Church of Corinth (as of many other in those primitive times) were enriched with all knowledge, and in all utterance. I Cor. 1.5. And the same persons that had the gift of prophecy in the Church of Corinth, had also the gift of tongues, which put upon the Apostle a necessity to take them off from their frequent speaking with tongues, by preferring prophecy before it, 1 Cor. 14.2. to 24. So that though all they might prophesy (as having extraordinary gifts for it) yet the like liberty is not allowed to them that want the like gifts. In the Church of Israel, none besides the Priests and Levites, did ordinarily prophesy, either in the Temple, or in the Synagogues, unless they were either furnished with extraordinary gifts of prophecy, (as the Prophets of Israel) or were set apart, and trained up, to prepare for such a calling, as the sons of the Prophets. When Amos was forbidden by the high Priest of Bethel, to prophesy at Bethel, Amos doth not allege nor plead ⟨p. 21⟩