( 27) this or that Diocefs are not Succeffors of the Apoilles, who were General unfixed Officers. 3. It is granted commonly by Papifls and Pro°eftants, that Presbyters have the power of the Keyes, though many of them think that theyare limited to ex- ercife them under the Bifhops, and by their Diretionand Con- lent, (of which many School -men have wrote at large) 4. The Key of Excommunication is but a Minil}erial Authoritative, Declaration, that fuch or Inch a known Offendor is to be avoid- ed, and tocharge the Church to avoid Cot rnunion with him, and him to avoid or keep away from the Priviledges of the Church ; and this a meer Presbyter may do : he may authorita- tively Declare fuch a man to beone that is to be avoided , and charge the Church and him to do accordingly. The like. I may fay of Abfolution : if they belong to every authorized Paftór, Preacher and Church guide, as fuch, thennot to a Bithop only, but to a Presbyter alfo. And that thefe Keyes belong to more then the Apoflles and their Succeffors, is plain, in that thefeare infufficient N aturally toufe them to their Ends. An Apofile in &APnt -ochcannot look to the cenfuring of all perfons that are to be Cenfured at Athens, .Paris, London, &c. fo that the moft of the work would be totally neglected, if only they and their fuppofed Succeffors had the doing of it. I conclude therefore that the Keyes belong not only toApoftles and their Succeffors in that General Office, no noronly to Diocefan Bifhops : for then Presbyters could not fo much as exercife themwith the Bi- thops in Confaftóry, which themfelves of late allow. Prop. i 6. TheApofiles were fallible in many matters offad', and confequently in the Decifions that depended thereupon; as allo in the Prudential determination of the time and feafon and other-Cirumflancesof known duties. And thence it was that Paul and Barnabas fo difagreed even to a parting, where one of them was certainly in the wrong. And hence Peter withdrew from the uncircumcifion, andmiffed Barnabat and others into . the fame difíimulation fo far thathe was to be blamed, and with flood, Ga1.2. Prop. 17. In fuch Cafes of mifleading, an Apoftle was not tobe follownd : no more is any Church Governor ndw but it is lawful and needful todiffent and withfland them to the face, :. and to blame them when theyare tobe blamed, for the Churches E a fafety,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=