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…

It was the unhappiness of those, who first in these latter times revived this plea of the peoples right, to err on the other extreme (as it hath ever been the fate of truth, when it first ariseth in the Church from under that long night of darkness which Antichristianism had brought upon the world to have a long shadow of error to accompany it) by laying the plea & claim on their behalf unto the whole power; & that the Elders set over them did but exercise that power for them, which was properly theirs, & which Christ had (as they contended) radically and originally estated in the people only.

It was the unhappinesse of those, who first in these latter times revived this plea of the peoples right, to erre on the other extreame (as it hath ever beene the fate of truth, when it first ariseth in the Church from under that long night of darknes which Antichristianisme had brought upon the world to have a long shadow of errour to accompanie it) by laying the plea & claim on their behalf unto the whole power; & that the Elders set over them did but exercise that power for them, which was properly theirs, & which Christ had (as they contended) radically and originally estated in the people only.

But after that all titles have been pleaded, of those that are content with nothing but the whole, the final judgement and sentence may (possibly) fall to be a suitable and due proportioned distribution and dispersion of this power into several interests, and the whole to neither part. In Commonwealths, it is a Dispersion of several portions of power and rights into several hands, jointly to concur and agree in acts and process of weight and moment, which causeth that healthful [Greek or Hebrew] and constitution of them, which makes them lasting & preserves their peace, when none of all sorts find they are excluded, but as they have a share of concernement, so that a fit measure of power or privilege, is left and betrusted to them. And accordingly the wisdom of the first Constitutors of Common wealths is most seen in such a just balancing of power & privileges, & besides also in setting the exact limits of that which is committed unto each; yea and is more admired by us in this than in their other Laws; and in experience, a clear and distinct definement and confinement of all such parcels of power, both for the kind and extent of them, is judged to be as essentially necessary (if not more) than what ever other statutes, that set out the kinds and degrees of crimes or penalties.