018) Y. That the gtteftion is not of the powerof Governing the Church by the fword, which belongeth to the King, and is Extrinick to the Paftosal office, and to the beingof theChurch,( As protebting the Church,punithing Church- offenders corporally, fie..) For this is proper to the Magifirate, and belong- eth neither to Bithops nor Presbyters as fuch. We claim no part with the Prelates in any fuch fecular Government as their Courts ufe, except when they come to Excommunication and Abfolution At leafl no coercive power at all. 3. All the queftion is of the power of the Keysof Admiflion, Conduct and _Exdufion ; of judging who (hall have Sacraments, and Church-Communion withour affemblies ? that is, Who [hall- be pronounced fit or unfit for it, by ourfelves ? And that thisbelongeth to Presbyters inforo pu1lico Ecclefie, I prove, . Becaufe they are Publiekofcers, or Paflars over that Church, and there- fore their power of the Keys is a publick Church power, elfe they had none of theKeys as Pallors of that Church at, all : For the Keys are to Let in and put out ; They are the Church Keys andhe that bath power only to fpeakfecretly to a frngleperfon, doth not thereby take in to the Church or put any ont, not Guide them publickly. Aman that is a Minifter (at leaft). may convince, fatisfie, comfort any mans confcience in fecret, of what Church fo- ever he be, even as he is a member of the Univerfal Church. But hethat is a publickOfficer. and Governour of the Church may publickly Govern the Church. But a Presbyter is a publick officer and Governour: Ergo. 2. The refi of his office may be publickly performed, Coram Ecclefia and not in fecret only : He may Preach to the Church, Pray with theChurch, PraifeGod with them, Give them the Sacrament: Therefore byparity ofRea- fon he may publickly exercife difeipline, milers any by-accident pro tempore forbid it. 3. Elfe he mutt be made a meer Inflrument ofanother,and nota rational free Agent andMinifter of Chrift : Yea perhaps more like to an Affe who may carry Bread and Wine to the Church, or like a Parrot . that may fay what he is bid, than-a .man who hath a difcerning judgment what he is to do. I muff pub- lickly baptize, and publickly preach and pray, andpublickly give the Lords Body and Bloud: And ifI mull be no Judge my felt to.whom I muff dothis, then, I. Either I may and muft do it to any one ( without:offending God ) to whom the Bithop bids me do it: And iffo, I may Excommunicate the faithful and curfe Gods children, and abfolve the moil notorioufly wicked, if theBithop bid me. And how come they to have more power than King Balakhad over Balaam ? or than a Chriftiati Emperour had over Chr}foftom ? He that faith to the wicked, Thou art righteous, Nations (hall curfe him, peo- plefhall abhor him, Prov. 24. 24. Wo to them that call evil good and good evil ! . But what if the Bithop bid them ? If I may not preach lies or herefies if the 8ilhop bid me, then I may not lyingly curfe the faithful.nor bkfs the wicked ifhe bid me. IfI may not forbear preaching the Gofpel meetly for the will ofman, when God calleth me to it, much leis may I fpeak Flanders, yea and
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