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…

This difference of power doth easily appear in comparing the several interest of Father and child, in his disposement of her in marriage, and her concurrence with him therein, (although we intend not the parallel between the things themselves.) ⟨image 6⟩A virgin daughter hath a power truly and properly so called, yea and a power ultimately to dissent upon an unsatisfied dislike, yea, and it must be an act of her consent, that maketh the marriage valid: But yet for her Parents to have a power to guide her in her choice (which she ought in duty to obey) and a power which must also concur to bestow her, or the marriage is invalid, this (comparing her interest (wherein she is more nearly and intimately concerned) with theirs) doth arise to the notion of an extrinsical authority; whereas that power is in her is but simply the power of her own act, in which her own concernement which doth interest her free by an intrinsical right. The like difference would appear if we had seen a Government tempered of an Aristocracy and democracy; in which, suppose the people have a share, and their actual consent is necessary to all laws and sentences, &c. whereas a few Nobles that are set over them (whose concernement is less general) in whom the formal sanction of all should lye, in these it were Rule and Authority, in that multitude but Power and interest, and such an Authority is to be given to a Presbytery of Elders in a particular Congregation, or else (as we have long since been resolved,) all that is said in the New Testament about their Rule, and of the peoples Obedience to them, is to be looked upon but as Metaphors, and to hold no proportion with any substantial reality of Rule and Government.

This difference of power doth easily appeare in comparing the severall interest of Father and child, in his disposement of her in marriage, and her concurrence with him therein, (although we intend not the paralell between the things themselves.) ⟨image 6⟩A virgin daughter hath a power truly and properly so called, yea and a power ultimately to dissent upon an unsatisfied dislike, yea, and it must be an act of her consent, that maketh the marriage valid: But yet for her Parents to have a power to guide her in her choyce (which she ought in duty to obey) and a power which must also concurre to bestowe her, or the marriage is invalid, this (comparing her intrest (wherein she is more neerly and intimately concerned) with theirs) doth arise to the notion of an extrinsecall authority; whereas that power is in her is but simply the power of her own act, in which her own concernement which doth intrest her free by an intrinsecall right. The like difference would appeare if we had seene a Governement tempered of an Aristocracy and democracy; in which, suppose the people have a share, and their actuall consent is necessary to all lawes and sentences, &c. whereas a few Nobles that are set over them (whose concernement is lesse generall) in whom the formall sanction of all should lye, in these it were Rule and Authority, in that multitude but Power and intrest, and such an Authority is to be given to a Presbytry of Elders in a particular Congregation, or else (as wee have long since beene resolved,) all that is said in the New Testament about their Rule, and of the peoples Obedience to them, is to be look't upon but as Metaphors, and to hold no porportion with any substantiall reallity of Rule and Governement.