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…

So in that Polity or Government by which Christ would have his churches ordered, the right disposal of the power therein (we humbly suppose) may lie in a due and proportioned allotment and dispersion (though not in the same measure and degree) into divers hands, according unto the several concernments and interests that each rank in his Church may have; rather than in an entire and sole trust committed to any one man (though ⟨image 3⟩never so able) or any one sort or kind of men or officers, although diversified into never so many subordinations under one another. And in like manner, we cannot but imagine, that Christ hath been as exact in setting forth the true bounds and limits of what ever portion of power he hath imparted unto any (if we of this age could attain rightly to discern it) as he hath been in ordering what kind of censures, and for what sins and what degrees of proceedings unto those censures; which we find he hath been punctual in.

So in that Politie or Government by which Christ would have his churches ordered, the right disposall of the power therein (we humbly suppose) may lie in a due and proportioned allotment and dispersion (though not in the same measure and degree) into divers hands, according unto the several concernments and interests that each rank in his Church may have; rather than in an intire and sole trust committed to any one man (though ⟨image 3⟩never so able) or any one sort or kinde of men or officers, although diversified into never so many subordinations under one another. And in like manner, wee cannot but imagine, that Christ hath been as exact in setting forth the true bounds and limits of what ever portion of power he hath imparted unto any (if wee of this age could attain rightly to discern it) as hee hath been in ordering what kinde of censures, and for what sinnes and what degrees of proceedings unto those censures; which wee finde hee hath been punctuall in.

Now the scope which this grave and judicious Author in this his Treatise doth pursue, is, to lay forth the just lines and terriers of this division of Church-power, unto all the several subjects of it; to the end to allay the contentions now on foot, about it. And in general he lays this fundamental Maxim, that holds in common true of all the particulars, to whom any portion of power can be supposed to be committed: That look what ever power or right any of the possessors and subjects thereof may have, they have it each, alike immediately (that is, in respect of a mediation of delegation or dependence on each other) from Christ, and so are each, the first subjects of that power that is allotted to them. And for the particular subjects themselves, he follows that division (in the handling of them) which the Controversy it self hath made unto his hands; To wit, 1. What power each single Congregation (which is endowed with a Charter to be a body-politic to Christ) hath granted to it to exercise within it self: And 2. What measure, or rather, kind of power Christ hath placed in Neighbour-Churches without it, and in association with it.