as containing both doctrine, worship,
and discipline, it is the whole power of the keys; if strictly, as
restrained only to discipline, it is at least part of the power. For,
1st, Not only the power of order, but also the power of jurisdiction, is
contained under the word keys; otherwise it should have been said key,
not keys; church government therefore is at least part of the power of
the keys. 2d, The word key, noting a stewardly power, as appears, Isa.
xxii. 22, (as Erastians themselves will easily grant,) may as justly be
extended in the nature of it to signify the ruling power by
jurisdiction, as the teaching power by doctrine; in that the office of a
steward in the household, who bears the keys, consists in governing,
ordering, and ruling the household, as well as in feeding it, as that
passage in Luke xii. 41-49, being well considered, doth very notably
evidence. For, Christ applying his speech to his disciples, saith, "Who
then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord shall make ruler
of his household?--he will make him ruler over all that he hath," &c.
3d, Nothing in the text or context appears why we should limit keys and
the acts thereof only to doctrine, and exclude discipline; and where the
text restrains not, we are not to restrain. 4th, The most of sound
interpreters extend the keys and the acts thereof as well to discipline
as to doctrine; to matters of jurisdiction, as well as to matters of
order. From all we may conclude,

Therefore no formal power of church government was ever given by Christ
to the civil magistrate, as a magistrate.

_Argum_. 2d. There was full power of church government in the church
when no magistrate was Christian, yea, when all magistrates were
persecutors of the Church, so far from being her _nursing fathers_, that
they were her _cruel butchers_; therefore the magistrate is not the
proper subject of this power. Thus we may argue:

_Major_. No proper power of church government, which was fully exercised
in the Church of Christ, before any magistrate became Christian, yea,
when magistrates were persecutors of the Church, was derived from Christ
to the magistrate as a magistrate.

_Minor_. But all proper power of church government was fully exercised
in the Church before any magistrate became Christian, yea, when
magistrates were cruel persecutors of the Church of Christ.

_Conclusion_. Therefore no proper power of church government was derived
from Christ to the civi