A34675:269
A defence of Mr. John Cotton from the imputation of self contradiction, charged on…A defence of Mr. John Cotton from the imputation of selfe contradiction, charged on…
A defence of Mr. John Cotton from the imputation of self contradiction, charged on him by Mr. Dan. Cawdrey written by himself not long before his death ; whereunto is prefixed, an answer to a late treatise of the said Mr. Cawdrey about the nature of schism, by John Owen ...A defence of Mr. John Cotton from the imputation of selfe contradiction, charged on him by Mr. Dan. Cavvdrey written by himselfe not long before his death ; whereunto is prefixed, an answer to a late treatise of the said Mr. Cavvdrey about the nature of schisme, by John Owen ...
Oxford: printed by H. Hall for T. Robinson, 1658
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.
4. That their Doctrine be subjected to the Teaching Elders of the Church. Grant these limitations, and I never scrupled (to my remembrance) the liberty of Prophesying by private Brethren, ⟨p. 75⟩yea this liberty I should further grant, that though the private Brethren be not furnished, with abilities fit for public office, yet there may be occasion, to call them forth to exercise their gifts; as in the sudden sickness or absence of the Minister, and other officers, why may not a private brother be called forth by the Church, or stirred up by the Spirit of God in himself to stand up, and with leave, instruct and exhort the Church, to make a Sanctified use of such a sudden stroke of Providence? Or what if a private Brother of good credit in the church shall observe the Doctrine of the Ministers not so much valued as were meet? why may he not take occasion, to speak some words of encouragement, and confirmation, both to the Minister and to the Congregation? Jehoshaphat's Nobles, though Princes, yet were but as Private Brethren in the Church, as bearing no Public Church-office: yet they taught in the Cities of Judah, what Respect was due to the Ministry of the Levites, ⟨p. 76⟩whom they brought with them, when my beloved Brethren do not acknowledge the Assembly of Apostles, Elders, and Brethren Acts 15. To have been a formal Synod of Messengers sent out of a set and combined Association from neighbour churches, They do not herein Dissent from me. For the two Churches of Antioch and Jerusalem were too far remote to stand in a set, or combined Association, and therefore they may well deny it to be a Formal Synod, according to the Form of Synods now in use in Presbyterial Churches. But that that assembly had the true matter and form of a just Synod, As I do believe it, so I do not see that my Brethren deny it. For the efficient cause of the Synod, the Church of Antioch sent messengers: and the Church of Jerusalem (whose officers were sent unto) they freely gave them a meeting, and the Church with them. For the matter of the Synod, they had the Messengers, officers, and Brethren of both Churches met together in the Name of ⟨p. 77⟩Christ. It is not necessary to the being of a Synod the convention of the Messengers and members of many Churches, The convention of two Churches (by themselves or messengers) may make a Synod.