A treatise of the nature of a minister in all its offices to which is annexed an answer to Doctor Forbes concerning the necessity of bishops to ordain, which is an answer to a question, proposed in these late unhappy times, to the author, What is a minister?

SECT. VI. How it is to be understood, that the Power of the Keyes is given to the Church.

THe Chief place, if not the only, which I have observed in the Gospel, pretended to be wrested to any such Intent, is Mat. 18. 17. If he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the Church▪ Thence it is by some enforced, that the Church is made the Judge in Ecclesiasti••al Discipline; and by the Church they will understand others besides the Apostles. To apprehend which, conceive with me: First, that this was one of those things which our Saviour delivered for a Rule, to govern the Church and Chri∣stian men by; not at that present, but afterwards, when Church Discipline was setled, for as yet there was no such Thing as any Discipline setled, but like a Commonwealth in the ••raming by degrees, Laws projected, ye•• Contrived and enacted, which might take their rise and force afterwards, when established. It is a poor Conceit (methinks) of Beza on this place, who would have it understood of the Jewish Synagogue, since he himself Confesseth that the word Church is no where else used for the Synagogue, nor indeed can it be, and why it should be forced to that meaning here I see no reason; and therefore the true understanding of it must be taken, from those setled Laws which our Saviour made after his Death, of which I have dis∣coursed: Now that this Law could not extend to any other men, but these Apostles, who had all the powers given them, as I have explained, will appear first; First, because it seems to be a Juridical way of proceedings; and it is impossible that the mul∣titude should have Juridical Discretion to make a man as an Hea∣then

or a Publican, being many of them illiterate men, and we should con••ine the limits of Christian men and Religion in much too narrow bounds, to say it belong only to the learned, or men enabled for such or so high a work. But there must be Officers in a Church to hear and judge of such a Cause, which Officers we understood by the Church, and although this Cen∣sure ought to be done in publick in the face of the Church, or the Court, where such Matters are discussed, yet it is not ne∣cessary, nor can have a face of reason with it, that every one of the Church should be there present, or they who are present should have the Nature of Judges, only such Men as are Offi∣cers enabled to act in this power; then if Officers, these men who h••d the power given them in the 20th. of St. John, are these which are here in the 18th verse said to bind and loose; So that then, I can see nothing that can hinder us from agreeing, that after our Saviours Death all Ecclesiastical power was seated in the Apostles; how they understand it, we shall Consider, in the fu∣ture Discourse, by their Actions set down to us, which must be our next undertaking.