CHAP. II.
Of the first subject of the power of the Keys.
MR. H. The power of the Keys is committed to the Church * 1.1 of confederate Saints, as to the first subject thereof; it is no new opinion.
2. I oppose Fathers to Fathers.
3. If it be in the peoples power to hinder excommunication to take place, then the Elders only have not a power given them of Christ, to manage this: but this is against the wisdom of Christ to ordain means that cannot attain the end; which must be, if the people may ••inder it.
Ans. If man be the first and proper subject of capacity to laugh, then must all contained under this subject, Peter, Ann••, be capable to laugh; but women, servants, aged children are as properly the confederate and inchurched Saints by Mr. H. his words, as men. Cyprian and most of the Fathers take in the * 1.2 people with the Rulers in the exercise of censures, by way of consent; but without vanity, I say, never Fathers, Greek or or Latine, Councels, old or late, Doctors, Schoolmen, Prote ••ant, Papist, or any Divine, till of late the Socinians, and now the brethren of the Congregational way, and the Separatists and Anabapti••••s taught, that the Church of believers of a single con∣gregation, hath formally a power of jurisdiction in them to make and unmake officers, to call and excommunicate them. But you shall find all the principles and grounds of this new way 〈◊〉〈◊〉