for a timeofLiberty. hear ofhis fug, and muff they leave him to himfel , at leaft tojudge of his fin? They power ofKeys was given toPeter, quiet fidelis, and the power to bind and look to two or threegathered together in Chrifis name, Mat. i8. but thefe thingsare known. For the clearing up of this, know that there is a three-foldderivative power, which the Lord bathgiven to theChurch joyntly, and nor to Elders only : Which may be miferably ahufed, and fo provoke the Lord to take it away from their hands till they know bet- ter how to ufe It; yet when'tis ufedaccording toChrift, now not to be under the power of it, which is Chris power delegated to it, is to caft oft Chritts Government. And I am confident, the bondage ofall the Churches in Chriftendome, ifye eltarnine the Churches, is continued, becaufe the Lord fees hearts unwilling to fubmit tohim in the government ofChurches; and will continue it till. Churches know how to ufe it, and men lye down to the power of it. r. They have a power given them from Chrif}, of r. opening and (hutting the doors of the Church, the Kingdome of God on earth : i. e. of letting in, and kee- ping out any according to Chrift; into, or out of their communion : and this I conceive to lie one part of the power of the Keys, committed to the Church : The chiefoffice of which, is to open and (hut; to re- ceive in, and keep out according to Chrift ; and hence the three thoufand were added to the Church, though the Apoftles were guidestherein : and Affs 9. 26. Pad would have joyned himfelf, but they would not ac- cept of him ; becaufe , they were afraid of him. No body naturali or politick, but they have power to receive to them the ufefutl, & keep from them the hurtfull ; fo, much more Chrifts fpirituall body. And hence, the Church ofEphefer is commended, Revel. 2. 2. together with their Angel, for trying thole that feemed good, and were not. Now 'tis true, this power may be miferably abu= fed in opening doores toowide, or locking them up too long, or too fait ; and in many , fad diforders thisways yet there is this power. Now when men Thal! refufe Church- tryall, and fo communion with the Church ; and that not from fenfe of their unfitneffe and unworthi cffe, or fome other reafo), which is in the fight of God
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