Conclusion.  Therefore this doctrine or opinion that makes the whole community or body of the Church to be the first subject, and immediate receptacle of the keys, is an unsound and unwarrantable opinion.

The Major is plain.  For, 1.  Though matters of religion be above reason, yet are they not unreasonable, absurd, and directly contrary to right reason. 2.  The Scriptures condemn it as a great brand upon men, that they are absurd or unreasonable; “Brethren, pray for us—­that we may be delivered from absurd and evil men,” 2 Thes. iii. 2; and therefore if absurd men be so culpable, absurdity, and unreasonableness itself, which make them such, are much more culpable.

The Minor, viz.  But this doctrine or opinion that makes the whole community or body of the Church to be the first subject and immediate receptacle of the keys, draws after it unavoidably divers intolerable absurdities, will notably appear by an induction of particulars.

1.  Hereby a clear foundation is laid for the rigid Brownist’s confused democracy, and abhorred anarchy.  For, if the whole body of the people be the first receptacle of the keys, then all church government and every act thereof is in the whole body, and every member of that body a governor, consequently every member of that body an officer.  But this is absurd; for if all be officers, where is the organical body? and if all be governors, where are the governed? if all be eyes, where are the feet? and if there be none governed, where is the government? it is wholly resolved at last into mere democratical anarchy and confusion, “but God is not the author of confusion,” 1 Cor. xiv. 33.  What an absurdity were it, if in the body natural all were an eye, or hand! for where then were the hearing, smelling, &c.; or if all were one member, where were the body? 1 Cor. xii. 17,19.  So if in the family all were masters, where were the household? where were the family government?  If in a city all were aldermen, where were the citizens? where were the city government?  If in a kingdom all were kings, where were the subjects, the people, the commonalty, the commonwealth, or the political government?

2.  Hereby the community or whole body of the faithful, even to the meanest member, are vested from Christ with full power and authority actually to discharge and execute all acts of order and jurisdiction without exception:  e.g.  To preach the word authoritatively, dispense the sacraments, ordain their officers, admonish offenders, excommunicate the obstinate and incorrigible, and absolve the penitent.  For the keys of the kingdom of heaven comprehend all these acts jointly, Matt. xvi. 19, and xviii. 18-20, with John xx. 21, 23:  and to whom Christ in the New Testament gives power to execute one of these acts, to them he gives power to execute all; they are joined together, Matt, xviii. 19, (except in such cases where himself