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. As the Brethren have a power of order, and the privilege to expostulate with their Brethren, in case of private scandals, according to the rule, Mat. 18.15, 16. So in case of public scandal, the whole Church of Brethren have power and privilege to join with the Elders, in inquiring, hearing, judging of public scandals; so as to bind notorious offenders and impenitents under censure, and to forgive the repentant: For when Christ commandeth a brother, in case that offence cannot be healed privately, then to tell the Church, Mat. 18.17. it necessarily implieth that the Church must hear him, and inquire into the offence complained of, and judge of the offence as they find it upon inquiry. When the Brethren that were of the circumcision expostulated with Peter about his communion with Cornelius, and his uncircumcised family, Peter did not reject them, and their complaint against him, as transgressing the bounds of their just power and privilege, but readily addressed himself to give satisfaction to them all, Act. 1, 1, 2 to 18. The Brethren of the Church of Corinth being gathered together with their Elders, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and with his power, did deliver the incestuous person to Satan, 1 Cor. 5.4, 5. And Paul reproveth them all, Brethren as well as Elders, that they had no sooner put him away from amongst them, v. 2. and expressly he alloweth to them all power to judge them that are within, v. 22. ⟨p. 14⟩Yea, and from thence argueth, in all the Saints, even in the meanest of the Saints, and ability to judge between brethren, in the things of this life, as those that have received such a spirit of discerning from Christ, by which they shall one day judge the world, even Angels, so in the next Chapter, the 6. of that 1 Cor. 1.2, 3, 4, 5. And the same Brethren of the same Church, as well as the Elders, he entreateth to forgive the same incestuous Corinthian, upon his repentance,