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…

In the new Testament, it is not a new observation that we never read of any national church, nor of any national officers given to them by Christ. In the old Testament indeed, we read of a National church. All the tribes of Israel were three times in a year to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem, Deut. 16.16. And he appointed them there an high Priest of the whole nation, and certain solemn sacrifices by him to be administered, Lev. 16.1. to 29. and together with him other Priests and Elders, and Judges, to whom all appeals should be brought, and who should judge all difficult and transcendent cases, Deut. 17.8. to 11. but we read of no such national church or high Priest, or court in the new Testament; And yet we willingly grant that particular churches of equal power, ⟨p. 32⟩may in some cases appointed by Christ, meet together by themselves, or by their messengers in a Synod, and may perform sundry acts of power there, as hath been showed above. But the officers themselves, and all the Brethren members of the Synod; yea, and the Synods themselves, and all the power they put forth, they are all of them primarily given to the several churches of particular Congregations, either as the first subject in whom they are resident, or as the first object about whom they are conversant, and for whose sake they are gathered and employed.

In the new Testament, it is not a new observation that we never read of any nationall church, nor of any nationall officers given to them by Christ. In the old Testament indeed, we reade of a Nationall church. All the tribes of Israel were three times in a yeer to appeare before the Lord in Jerusalem, Deut. 16.16. And he appointed them there an high Priest of the whole nation, and certain solemne sacrifices by him to be administred, Lev. 16.1. to 29. and together with him other Priests and Elders, and Judges, to whom all appeals should be brought, and who should judge all difficult and transcendent cases,