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 Jews and Gentiles were
converted to Christ, and being converted, incorporated and associated
themselves into churches, as the history of the Acts, chap, ii., and
forward, evidenceth abundantly. 2. Church officers, under the New
Testament, are for the calling and gathering men unto Christ, and to his
body mystical; and for admitting of those that believe into that one
body, Matt, xxviii. 18, 19; 1 Cor. xii. 28. And is not he that calleth,
before them that are called by them; they that baptize, before the
baptized; and they that gather the churches, before those churches which
they gather? May we not hence conclude, _Therefore_, &c.

_Argum_. III. The names, titles, and other denominations purposely and
peculiarly given to the church guides in Scripture, generally do bear
power and authority engraven upon their foreheads. _Therefore_, they are