t of civil judicature; and yet most absurdly they
interpret the binding and loosing here spoken of, to be doctrinal and
declarative; not juridical and authoritative; as if the doctrinal
binding and loosing were in the power of the civil Sanhedrin:[107] yet
all these are but vain, groundless pretences and subterfuges, without
substance or solidity, as the learned and diligent reader may easily
find demonstrated by consulting these judicious authors mentioned in the
foot note,[108] to whom for brevity's sake he is referred for
satisfaction in these and divers such like particulars.

3. The consideration of the apostolical practice, and state of the
Church of God in those times, may serve further to clear this matter to
us. For, 1. We sometimes read of single congregations; and as the Holy
Ghost doth call the whole body of Christ _the Church_, Matt. xvi. 18, 1
Cor. xii. 28, and often elsewhere; and the larger particular members of
that body of Christ (partaking the nature of the whole, as a drop of
water is as true water as the whole ocean) churches; as, _the church of
Jerusalem_, Acts viii. 1; _the church of Antioch_, Acts xiii. 1; _the
church of Ephesus_, Rev. ii. 1; _the church of Corinth_, 2 Cor. i. 1;
(these being the greater presbyterial churches, as after will appear,
Chap. XIII.;) so the same holy Spirit of Christ is pleased to style
single congregations, _churches_, "Let women keep silence in the
churches," 1 Cor. xiv. 34, i.e. in the single congregations of this one
church of Corinth: and often mention is made of the church that is in
such or such an _house_, as Rom. xvi. 5; 1 Cor. xvi. 19; Col. iv. 15;
Philem. 2; whether this be interpreted of the church made up only of the
members of that family, or of the church that ordinarily did meet in
such houses, it implies a single congregation. Now shall single
congregations have the name and nature of churches, and shall we imagine
they had not in them the ordinary standing church officers, viz. pastors
and teachers, governments, or elders _ruling well_, and helps or
deacons? or is it probable they were furnished with these officers, and
yet the officers furnished with no power for the government of these
single congregations at all? 2. We find that the apostles being crowned
with such success in their ministry, as to be instruments of converting
such multitudes to the faith as were sufficient to make up many several
churches from time to time, did diligently take care