C 246) M. r. I confefsthat this is the firft and molt momentous part of the power ofthe Keys. But it tells us that it is not only Bi- ll-lopsthat have that power : But either fome-bodyor no-body muft have thispower or truff. z . If Nobody; Turks, Heathens,Sadducees, any may be ba- ptized tho' in fcorn ;'and may be membersofthe Church at plea- lure, and the Church thall indeed be no Church, being con- founded with the World. A Parrot maybe taught to fay thole words. A man of about So Years of age in the Parifh where I taught, being ask'd who fefas Chriftwas, pointed to the Sunand faid, That was he ; and ask'd, Wh was the Holy Ghoft ? Said, he thought the Moon. What wifeman will be the Paftor of fuch a Church 2: Chrift hath inffituted an Office for this judgment, and given them the Keys : Therefore theremuft be force fuch judge: 2 If Some-body, who mutt it be ? I. If it be every expe- etant for himfelf, it will be as before ; and there will be no Church. Any Heathen may come in. 2. If it muft be the Ma- giftrate, you call him to attend this Service,and to teach and try all that are baptized at age, and all Parents for their Children : And if you lay on him tyre Paftors Office, you make him Pallor. 3. If it mua be the Bifhop, it is impoflible, and no Bi- fhop will do it ; when he doth not fo much as know or fee one ofan hundred in his Diocefs : It mutt then be the Parifh-Mini- fter, or No-body. 3. Thofe mua be trotted with it whom Chrift bath appoin- ted for fuch truff : But that is the miffers : To them he bath commited theKeys ofhis Church or Kingdom. 4. Thole mutt be trufted with it, that muff Execute it : It is the Minifter that muft Baptize And therefore he muff judge whom to baptize; or elfe he is but an Executioner,lilte one that wafheth any one that's foul; and not a judge of what he loth, nor muff anfwerfor it. 5. The Univerfal Church ever lince Chrift'sdays bath agreed in this : And thall we now overthrow it ? And as to the exception againff the Power of the .Pall-or 1. All power may be abufed ; than we have noKing,, no Judge, or tuftce,or Bifhops, becaufe they may abufetheir power ? 2. It is fo natural to men to confult their own ,carnal Intereft, which will here rriofi lie in pleating thepeople,and floathfully to omit ,.
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