A34669:29
Certain queries tending to accommodation and communion of Presbyterian & Congregational churches by Mr…Certain queries tending to accommodation and communion of Presbyterian & Congregationall churches by Mr…
Certain queries tending to accommodation and communion of Presbyterian & Congregational churches by Mr John Cotton ... ; published by a friend to whom the author himself sent them over not long before his death.Certain queries tending to accommodation and communion of Presbyterian & Congregationall churches by Mr John Cotton ... ; published by a friend to whom the author himselfe sent them over not long before his death.
London: printed by M.S. for John Allen and Francis Eglesfield, 1654
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Why not? For he had the Essence of a lawful Calling before, in the free choice of his godly People, and in his own free acceptance of them and of their Call. Nevertheless, if any of his godly People should stumble at his former Calling, whether may not a more select Company and body of the People renew their Call of him, and there to accept the Concurrence and Consent of the rest of the Congregation? And whether may not he also do well ⟨p. 10⟩(instead of stiff standing upon the validity of his former Calling) to condescend to renew his Acceptance of them yea, and to receive a New Ordination from them, with express designation to the Office, either of a Pastor or Teacher; and that without prejudice or dishonour to his former Calling? For a renewed Act doth not invalidate (much less evacuate) the old, but clear it and confirm it (so far as there is any thing of God in it) as in Scripture all Ingeminations do. Saul was thrice Ordained King over Israel, 1 Sam. 10.1. & ver. 24. & 11.14, 15. thrice to the same Calling, and with several solemnities. Neither is Ordination of the Essence of a Ministerial Calling, but a solemn Adjunct of it; which may be renewed upon occasion of any New spiritual Employment, or Function, Place or People, Acts 13.2, 3.
Why not? For he had the Essence of a lawfull Calling before, in the free choice of his godly People, and in his owne free acceptance of them and of their Call. Nevertheless, if any of his godly People should stumble at his former Calling, whether may not a more select Company and body of the People renue their Call of him, and there to accept the Concurrence and Consent of the rest of the Congregation? And whether may not he also doe well ⟨p. 10⟩