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…

4. A fourth Corollary touching the independency of churches is, That a Church fallen into any offence (whether it be the whole church, or a strong party in it) is not independent in the exercise of church-power, but is subject both to the admonition of any other church, and to the determination and ⟨p. 54⟩judicial sentence of a Synod for direction into a way of truth and peace.

4. A fourth Corollary touching the independency of churches is, That a Church fallen into any offence (whether it be the whole church, or a strong party in it) is not independent in the exercise of church-power, but is subject both to the admonition of any other church, and to the determination and ⟨p. 54⟩judiciall sentence of a Synod for direction into a way of truth and peace.

And this also ariseth from the former discourse. For, if clavis errans non ligat, & Ecclesia litigans non ligat; that is, if Christ hath not given to a particular church a promise to bind and loose in heaven, what they bind and loose on earth, unless they agree together, and agree in his name, then such a church is not independent in their proceedings, as do fail in either. For all the independency that can be claimed is founded upon that promise, What ye bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: what ye loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven, Matth. 18.18. On that promise is founded both the independency and security, and parity also of all churches. But if that promise be cut off from them, they are like Samson when his hair was cut off, weak, and subject to fall under other men; and yet they fall softer then he did: he fell into the hands of his enemies, but they fall under the censure of their friends. As the false Prophet recanting his error did acknowledge, so may they: Thus was I wounded in the house of my friends,