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 what should be the reason of such a constitution but this (which in the beginning we insisted on) the dispersion of power into several hands, which in capital matters, every mans trial should run through; whereof the one should have the tie of like common interest to oblige them unto faithfulness; as the other should have skill and wisdom to guide them and direct therein.

And what should be the reason of such a constitution but this (which in the beginning we insisted on) the dispersion of power into severall hands, which in capitall matters, every mans tryall should runne through; whereof the one should have the tye of like common intrest to oblige them unto faithfullnesse; as the other should have skill and wisedome to guide them and direct therein.

And besides that interest that is in any kind of Association, fraternity, yea or neighbourhood, or like wise, that which is from the common case of men alike subjected to an Authority set over them to sentence them, there is also the special advantage of an exact knowledge of the fact in the heinous circumstances thereof, yea, and (in these cases) of the ordinary conversation of the person offending.

And besids that intrest that is in any kind of Association, fraternity, yea or neighbourhood, or like wise, that which is from the common case of men alike subjected to an Authority set over them to sentence them, there is also the speciall advantage of an exact knowledge of the fact in the hainous circumstances thereof, yea, and (in these cases) of the ordinary conversation of the person offending.

We need not enlarge in the application of this: Although a greater Assembly of Elders are to be reverenced as more wise and able than a few Elders with their single Congregations, and accordingly may have an higher doctrinal power, (a power properly, and peculiarly suited to their Abilities.) in cases of difficulty, to determine and direct Congregations in their way; yet Christ hath not betrusted them with that power He hath done the Congregations; because they are abstracted from the people: And so one Tribe of men concerned in all the forementioned respects is wanting, which Christ would have personally concurring, not by delegation or representation alone, not to the execution only, but even to the legal sentence also of cutting men off, as in the former parallel and instance may be observed. Yea, and the higher and the greater the association of the Presbyteries are, the further are they removed from the people, and although you might have thereby a greater help, in that Juridical knowledge of the Rule, to be proceeded by: yet they are in a further distance (and disabled thereby) from that Precise practic knowledge of the Fact and frame of spirit in the person transgressing. And Cases may be as truly difficult and hard to be decided from obscurity, and want of light into the Circumstantiation of the Fact, and person: in which it was committed, and by him obstinately persisted in; as of the Law it self.