5. The fifth point to be explained, is, To whom is this power of the keys given? The Text saith, To thee Simon Peter, the son of Jona, whom Christ blesseth, and pronounceth blessed upon his holy confession of Christ, the Son of the living God, and upon the same occasion promiseth both to use him and his confession, as an Instrument to lay the foundation of his Church; and also to give him the keys of his Church, for the well ordering and governing of it. But it hath proved a busy Question, How Peter is to be considered in receiving this power of the keys, whether as an Apostle, or as an Elder, (for an Elder also he was, 1 Pet. 5.1.) or as a Believer professing his faith before the Lord Jesus, and his fellow Brethren. Now because we are as well studious of peace, as of truth, we will not lean to one of these interpretations, more than to another. Take any of them, it will not hinder our purpose in this ensuing Discourse, though (to speak ingenuously and without offence what we conceive) the sense of the words will be most full, if all the several considerations be taken jointly together. Take Peter considered not only as an Apostle, but an Elder also, yea, and a Believer too, professing his faith, all may well stand together. For there is a different power given to all these, to an Apostle, to an Elder, to a Believer, and Peter was all these, and received all the power, which was given by Christ to any of these, or to all of these together. For as the Father sent Christ, so Christ sent Peter (as well as any Apostle) cum amplitudine, & plenitudine potestatis, (so far as either any Church-Officer, or the whole Church it self, was capable of it) John 20.21. So that Austin did not mistake when he said Peter received the keys in the name of the Church. Nevertheless, we from this place in Mat. 16.19. will challenge no further power, either to the Presbytery, or to the Fraternity of the Church, then is more expressly granted to them in other Scriptures. Now in other Scriptures it appeareth; First, That Christ gave the power of retaining or remitting of sins (that is, the power of binding and loosing, the whole power of the keys) to all the Apostles as well as to Peter, Joh. 20.21.23. Secondly, It appeareth also that the Apostles commended the rule and government of every particular Church to the Elders (the Presbytery) of that Church, Heb. 13.17.
5. The fifth point to be explained, is, To whom is this power of the keyes given? The Text saith, To thee Simon Peter, the sonne of Jona, whom Christ blesseth, and pronounceth blessed upon his holy confession of Christ, the Sonne of the living God, and upon the same occasion promiseth both to use him and his confession, as an Instrument to lay the foundation of his Church; and also to give him the keys of his Church, for the well ordering and governing of it. But it hath proved abusie Question, How Peter is to be considered in receiving this power of the keys, whether as an Apostle, or as an Elder, (for an Elder also he was, 1 Pet. 5.1.) or as a Believer professing his faith before the Lord Jesus, and his fellow Brethren. Now because wee are as well studious of peace, as of truth, wee will not leane to one of these interpretations, more than to another. Take any of them, it will not hinder our purpose in this ensuing Discourse, though (to speake ingenuously and without offence what we conceive) the sense of the words will be most full, if all the severall considerations be taken joyntly together. Take Peter considered not onely as an Apostle, but an Elder also, yea, and a Beleever too, professing his faith, all may well stand together. For there is a different power given to all these, to an Apostle, to an Elder, to a Beleever, and Peter was all these, and received all the power, which was given by Christ to any of these, or to all of these together. For as the Father sent Christ, so Christ sent Peter (as well as any Apostle) cum amplitudine, & plenitudine potestatis, (so far as either any Church-Officer, or the whole Church it selfe, was capable of it) John 20.21. So that Austin did not mistake when he said Peter received the keys in the name of the Church. Neverthelesse, wee from this place in Mat. 16.19. will challenge no further power, either to the Presbytery, or to the Fraternitie of the Church, then is more expresly granted to them in other Scriptures. Now in other Scriptures it appeareth; First, That Christ gave the power of retaining or remitting of sins (that is, the power of binding and loosing, the whole power of the keys) to all the Apostles as well as to Peter, Joh. 20.21.23. Secondly, It appeareth also that the Apostles commended the rule and government of every particular Church to the Elders (the Presbytery) of that Church, Heb. 13.17.
