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…

And because these particular Congregations, both Elders and People, may disagree and miscarry, and abuse this power committed to them; He therefore, secondly, asserteth an association or communion of Churches, sending their Elders and Messengers into a Synod, (so he purposely chooseth to stile those Assemblies of Elders which the Reformed Churches do call Classes or Presbyteries, that so he might distinguish them from those Presbyteries of Congregations before mentioned) And acknowledgeth that it is an Ordinance of Christ, unto whom Christ hath (in relation to rectifying Mal-administrations and healing dissentions in particular Congregations, and the like cases) committed a due and just measure of power, suited and proportioned to those ends; and furnished them, not only with ability to give counsel and advice, but further upon such occasions with a Ministerial power and authority to determine, declare and enjoin such things as may tend to the reducing such Congregations to right order and peace. Only in his bounding and defining this power, he affirms it to be. First for the kind and quality of it, but a dogmatical or doctrinal power, (though stamped with authority Ministerial as an Ordinance of Christ) whether in judging of controversies of faith (when they disturb the peace of particular Congregations, and which themselves find too difficult for them) or in discerning matters of fact and what censures they do deserve: but not armed with authority and power of Excommunicating or delivering unto Satan, either the Congregations or the Members of them: But they in such cases, having declared and judged the nature of the offence, and admonished the peccant Churches, and decerned what they ought to do with their offending members; they are to leave the formal act of this censure to that authority which can only execute it, placed by Christ in those Churches themselves; which if they deny to do, or persist in their miscarriage, then to ⟨image 4⟩determine to withdraw communion from them.

And because these particular Congregations, both Elders and People, may disagree and miscarry, and abuse this power committed to them; He therefore, secondly, asserteth an association or communion of Churches, sending their Elders and Messengers into a Synod, (so hee purposely chooseth to stile those Assemblies of Elders which the Reformed Churches do call Classes or Presbyteries, that so hee might distinguish them from those Presbyteries of Congregations before mentioned) And acknowledgeth that it is an Ordinance of Christ, unto whom Christ hath (in relation to rectifying Mal-administrations and healing dissentions in particular Congregations, and the like cases) committed a due and just measure of power, suited and proportioned to those ends; and furnished them, not only with ability to give counsell and advice, but further upon such occasions with a Ministeriall power and authority to determine, declare and injoyn such things as may tend to the reducing such Congregations to right order and peace. Onely in his bounding and defining this power, he affirms it to be. First for the kinde and quality of it, but a dogmaticall or doctrinall power, (though stamped with authority Ministeriall as an Ordinance of Christ) whether in judging of controversies of faith (when they disturb the peace of particular Congregations, and which themselves finde too difficult for them) or in decerning matters of fact and what censures they doe deserve: but not armed with authority and power of Excommunicating or delivering unto Satan, either the Congregations or the Members of them: But they in such cases, having declared and judged the nature of the offence, and admonished the peccant Churches, and decerned what they ought to do with their offending members; they are to leave the formall act of this censure to that authority which can only execute it, placed by Christ in those Churches themselves; which if they deny to do, or persist in their miscarriage, then to