The 6. article
* 1.16. We learned and used heretofore to apply to our estate and use, the things that the scriptures teach concerning the governours and people in Israel. Now we ar excepted and opposed against, if we doo so, with these exceptions and the like, that they had civil authority and government, which the church hath not; that they could not in Israel forgive one an o∣thers syn, as we can now: that the people now have more power then in Israel, because now we folow Christ into heaven, wheras the people might not folow the high Preist into the most holy place &c.
I answer; the right applying of our estate to Israel, we alwayes have and stil doo approve: but these mens wrested proportions, and making the Church in Mat. 18. to be the same with the Iewes Synedrion or Sessions of civil Magistrates, we doo reprove, and so have doon in our more ancient writings, Refut. of M. Giff. pag. 76. &c. so that no new thing is doon by us.
2. That private men forgave not synns in Israel, so absolutely touching the Church order or politie, as Christians doo now, is e∣vident by the Law, which bound the offender not onely unto re∣pentance and faith * 1.2 in Christ, as also to † 1.3 confess his syn and satis∣fy his “ 1.4 neighbour offended; but withal to bring a trespass offring to