which power the apostle speaking, saith, "If I
should somewhat boast of our power which the Lord hath given us to
edification," 2 Cor. x. 8; so 2 Cor. xiii. 10. The people are indeed
allowed certain liberties or privileges; as, _To try the spirits_, &c.,
1 John iv. 1. To prove all doctrines by the word, 1 Thess. v. 21. To
nominate and elect their own church officers, as their deacons, which
they did, Acts vi. 3, 5, 6; but this is not a proper power of the keys.
But the proper, public, official, authoritative power, is quite denied
to the body of the people, furnished with an eldership or destitute
thereof.

3. By _proper immediate receptacle, or first subject of power_,
understand, that subject, seat, or receptacle of power, which first and
immediately received this power from Jesus Christ; and consequently was
intrusted and authorized by him, to put forth and exercise that power in
his Church for the government thereof. And here two things must be
carefully remembered: 1. That we distinguish betwixt the object and
subject of this power. The object for which, for whose good and benefit
all this power is given, is primarily the general visible Church, Ephes.
iv. 7, 10-12; 1 Cor. xii. 28; Rom. xii. 5,6, &c. Secondarily, particular
churches, as they are parts and members of the general. But the subject
receiving to which the power is derived, is not the Church general or
particular, but the officers or governors of the Church. 2. That we
distinguish also betwixt the donation of the power, and the designation
of particular persons to offices ecclesiastical. This designation of
persons to the offices of key bearing or ruling may be done first and
immediately by the Church, in nominating or electing her individual
officers which is allowed to her; yet is no proper authoritative act of
power. But the donation of the power itself is not from the Church as
the fountain, but immediately from Christ himself, 2 Cor. xi. 8, and
xiii. 10. Nor is it to the Church as the subject, but immediately to the
individual church officers themselves, who consequently, in all the
exercise of their power, act as the _ministers and stewards of Christ_,
1 Cor. iv. 1, putting forth their power immediately received from
Christ, not as the substitutes or delegates of the Church putting forth
her power, which from Christ she mediately conveys to them, as
Independents do imagine, but by us is utterly denied.

SECTION II.

For confirmation of this p