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 in this Distribution of power, Christ hath had a suitable and due regard unto the estate and condition of his Church; as now under the New Testament, He hath qualified and dignified it. Under the Old Testament, it was in its infancy, but it is comparatively come forth of its nonage, & grown up to a riper age (both as the tenure of the Covenant of grace in difference from the old, runs in the Prophets, & as Paul to the Galatians expresseth it.) They are therefore more generally able, if visible Saints (which is to be the subject matter of Churches under the N. Testament) to join with their Guides & Leaders in judging & discerning what concerns their own & their Brethren's consciences; And therefore Christ hath not now lodged the sole power of all Church matters solely & entirely in the Churches Tutors & Governors as of old when it was under age He did: But yet because of their weakness & unskilfulness (for the generality of them,) in comparison to those whom He hath ascended to give gifts unto, on purpose for their guidance & the Government of them; He hath therefore placed a Rule and Authority in those Officers over them, not directing only but binding: so as not only nothing (in an ordinary way of Church government) should be done without them, but not esteemed validly done unless done by them. And thus by means of this due and golden balancing and poising of power and interest, Authority and Privilege, in Elders and the Brethren, this Government might neither degenerate into Lordliness and oppression in Rulers over the Flock, as not having all power in their hands alone; nor yet into Anarchy and confusion in the Flock among themselves; & so as all things belonging to mens consciences might be, transacted to common edification, & satisfaction.

And in this Distribution of power, Christ hath had a sutable and due regard unto the estate and condition of his Church; as now under the New Testament, He hath qualified and dignified it. Vnder the Old Testament, it was in its infancy, but it is comparatively come forth of its nonage, & growen up to a riper age (both as the tenure of the Covenant of grace in difference from the old, runs in the Prophets, & as Paul to the Galatians expresseth it.) They are therefore more generally able, if visible Saints (which is to be the subject matter of Churches under the N. Testāent) to joyn with their Guides & Leaders in judging & discerning what concernes their own & their Brethrens consciences; And therefore Christ hath not now lodged the sole power of all Church matters solely & intirely in the Churches Tutors & Governors as of old when it was under age He did: But yet because of their weaknes & unskilfulnes (for the generality of them,) in comparison to those whō He hath ascended to give gifts unto, on purpose for their guidance & the Government of thē; He hath therefore placed a Rule and Authority in those Officers over them, not directing onely but binding: so as not onely nothing (in an ordinary way of Church government) should be done without them, but not esteemed validly done unlesse done by them. And thus by meanes of this due and golden ballancing and poysing of power and interest, Authority and Priviledge, in Elders and the Brethren, this Government might neither degenerate into Lordlynesse and oppression in Rulers over the Flocke, as not having all power in their hands alone; nor yet into Anarchy and confusion in the Flocke among themselves; & so as all things belonging to mens consciences might be, transacted to common edification, & satisfaction.