r which all offices
and officers with their gifts and power are primarily given, 1 Cor. xii.
28; Eph. iv. 8, 11, 12. As for that place, 1 Cor. iii. 22, "All is
yours," &c., it points not out the particular privilege of any one
single congregation, (nor was the church of Corinth such, but
presbyterial, see chap. XIII.,) but the general privilege of all true
saints, and of the invisible mystical Church: for were Paul and Cephas
apostles given peculiarly to the church of Corinth only? Or was the
_world, life, death, things present and to come_, given to the wicked in
the church of Corinth? 3. That the apostles are made the first subject
of all apostolical power. But then, how doth this contradict the former
assertion, that a particular congregation is the first subject of all
offices with their gifts and power? Are there two first subjects of the
same adjuncts? Or is apostleship no office? Are apostolical gifts no
gifts, or power no power? or have apostles all from the Church?
Doubtless apostles were before all Christian churches, and had the keys
given them before the churches had their being. 4. That the brethren of
a particular congregation are made the first subjects of church liberty.
But, if that liberty be power and authority, then this evidently
contradicts the former, that a particular congregation is the first
subject of all offices and power; for brethren here are distinct from
elders, and both do but make up a particular congregation. If liberty
here be not power, then it is none of Christ's keys, but a new forged
pick-lock. 5. That the elders of a particular church are made the first
subject of church authority; but then here is a contradiction to the
former position, that made the particular congregation the first subject
of all power. And though apostles and elders be the first subject of
authority, yet, when the keys were first committed to them, they were
not in relation to any particular church, but to the general. 6.
Finally, that both elders and brethren, walking and joining together in
truth and peace, are the first subjects of all church power, is liable
also to exception. For this joins the brethren (who indeed have no
authoritative power at all) with the elders, as the joint subject of all
power. And this but allowed to them walking and joining together in
truth and peace: but what if the major part of the Church prove
heretical, and so walk not in truth; or schismatical, and so walk not in
peace, s