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…

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.

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 severall subjects of it; to the end to allay the contentions now on foot, about it. And in generall hee layes this fundamentall Maxime, 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 possessours and subjects thereof may have, they have it each, alike immediatly (that is, in respect of a mediation of delegation or dependance 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, hee follows that division (in the handling of them) which the Controversie it self hath made unto his hands; To wit, 1. What power each single Congregation (which is indowed with a Charter to be a body-politique to Christ) hath granted to it to exercise within it self: And 2. What measure, or rather, kinde of power Christ hath placed in Neighbour-Churches without it, and in association with it.