The major proposition cannot reasonably be denied, and may be further cleared by these considerations, viz:  1.  That the Church offices for church government under the New Testament are in their own nature intrinsically offices of power.  The apostle styles it power, or authority, which is given to these officers by the Lord, 2 Cor. x. 8, and xiii. 10. The keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed to them, Matt. xvi. 19, and keys import a stewardly power:  compare Matt. xvi. 19, and xviii. 18, John xx. 21, 23, with Isa. xxii. 21, 22.  Materially, the acts and exercise of these officers are acts of power, as binding, loosing, &c., Matt, xviii. 18; not only preaching, &c., but excommunicating, is an act of power, 1 Cor. v. 4.  Absolving the penitent, and confirming him again in the Church’s love, is an act of power:—­to confirm love unto him, i.e. authoritatively to confirm, &c., as the word signifies, 2 Cor. ii. 8.  Formally, these acts are to be done as acts of power, in Christ’s name, and by his authority, Matt. xxviii. 19; 1 Cor. v. 4.  Now if these offices be in their own nature offices of power, consequently they that have such offices conferred upon them by Christ, before the Christian Church had being or existence, they must needs be the first and immediate recipient subject of the power of the keys from Christ. 2.  Either those church officers, whose offices were instituted before the Christian Church was constituted, must be the first subject of the power, &c., or some others.  If any other, then, 1.  Either heathens, or heathen magistrates, who are out of the Church:  but both these were absurd to grant; for then they that are not so much as church members should be church governors, and the Church be ecclesiastically judged by them that are without. 2.  Or the first subject of this power was the Christian Church itself before it had existence; but that were notoriously absurd; and besides these, no other can be imagined, but the church officers; therefore they must needs be the first subject of the power of the keys.

The minor proposition (viz.  But the ecclesiastical offices of Christ’s own officers for governing of the Church now under the New Testament, were instituted by Christ before any formal visible Christian Church was gathered or constituted) is so evident in the current of the New Testament, that it needs little confirmation.  For, 1.  The church offices under the New Testament, as apostleship, pastorship, &c., were instituted by Christ either before his death—­compare these places together, Mark iii. 13, 14, &c.; Luke ix. 1, &c., and x. 1, 2, &c.; John xx. 21-23; Matt, xxviii. 18-20—­or presently upon his ascension, Eph. iv. 8, 11, 12, &c.; Acts ii.; 1 Cor. xiii. 28.  Now no formal Christian Church was constituted and gathered till the feast of Pentecost and afterwards.  Then, after the apostles had received the gifts of the Holy Ghost, &c., Acts ii., great multitudes of