A discourse concerning the subject of baptism wherein the present controversies, that are agitated…A discourse concerning the subject of baptisme wherein the present controversies, that are agitated…

1. A particular Church is by some taken in a very strict Sense, viz. for a Company of professing Covenanting Believers entrusted by Christ with the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, Math. 16. 18, 19. Thus by Church is meant a Society consisting of Elders and Brethren which are a Body Politic, or Spiritual Corporation, unto whom Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction doth entirely belong. Yea, the particular Church is sometimes in the Scripture taken in this strict Sense, Acts 15. 22, 23. The Elders and Brethren are there said to be not only the Church, but the whole Church. See more to this purpose in that excellently Judicious Epistle which Dr. Goodwin, and Mr. Nigh have prefixed to Mr. Cottons Treatise of the Keys, pag. 3. Now in this Sense not only Children but also women are exempted from being members Constituent of the particular Church. h. e. They have nothing to do with the power of the Keys. See that Preface mentioned in the page Cited, and the Reply of the dissenting Brethren at Westminster, pag. 30. and Dr. Owens Catechism, pag. 89. 103. Doubtless some such Notion as this must be aimed at by Learned Mr. Norton, ⟨p. 46⟩when he asserts that women are members of the Church, but not members Constituent. For thus he writeth in his acute and accurate discourse ^[h]about Church membership, the membership of a male Child Confederating mediately, i. e. In the public, person of the Mother excelleth the membership of the Mother Confederating Immediately in her own person, because the Mother, though she be a Church member, yet is not capable of being a member Constituent of the Church, for only Brethren Constitute a Church, in that they alone be capable of being the Subject of the power of the Keys, 1 Cor. 14. 34. 1 Tim. 2. 12. So as that should the Brethren dye, the Sisters surviving could not continue a Church, but would Immediately cease to be Church members, &c. Thus Mr. Norton. Nevertheless, we must not therefore exclude either Women or Children from being the Subjects of Church discipline, we know that in Civil Corporations those that belong to such a City are under the Jurisdiction of the Aldermen, and Common Council, who yet are not themselves either the one or the other.