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The 2. property wherewith he investeth them, is, that the porter openeth vnto them: by which porter Mr Smith means the Church, for which Mr B▪ reviles him out of measure; making the porter invisibly* 1.1 Gods spirit, visibly the authority committed by the Church vnto some for ad∣mitting men into the house, the Church of God, which sayth he, is a sensible exposition according to the custome with us, and in Iudaea.
As there are many true ministers (in respect of men) which en∣ter* 1.2 not in at all by the spirit of God, or any motion of it, as it was with Iudas, & is with all hypocrites, who for by-respects take that calling vppon them: so is Mr Smithes exposition making the Church the porter far more probable then yours, who make the porter, the autho∣rity, of the Church cōmitted to some for the admission of men. Is not the porter a person rather then a thing? And who that hath but com∣mon sense, will not rather by the porter vnderstand the person or persons having authority, then the authority, which he, or they have? And if you Mr B. had but remembred, what you write of the properties of the Church pag. 237. 138. making as here you do, the porter, or authority of the Church a property of a sheepheard, you would (I suppose) in modesty have forborn the charging of Mr Smith to have his braynes intoxi••ated by his new wayes, & to be madded by his own fantasies in religion, for wryting in this poynt, as he doth. And for the thing it self, it is evident, that Christ Iesus is properly the sheepheard of the sheep, here spoken of: and that therefore the au∣thority* 1.3 of the Church can be no porter for hi enterance, or admis∣sion. I do therefore rather think, that by the porter is meant God the father, whose care, and providence is ever over his flock, who therefore hath called, and appoynted his sonne Iesus Christ to be that good sheepheard, who gave his life for his sheep. And if you will apply this to ordinary Pastours, and their calling, then sure by the porter must be meant such, as have received this liberty, & power from Christ by the hands of his Apostles, for the chusing, and appoyn∣ting of ministers, which I am sure, of all others, are not the Ro∣mish▪ or English Bishops. Christ would never have the wolves to ap∣poynt his sheep their sheepheards.