A37205:102
The power of Congregational churches asserted and vindicated in answer to a treatise of…
The power of Congregational churches asserted and vindicated in answer to a treatise of Mr. J. Paget entitled The defence of church-government exercised in classes and synods / by John Davenport.The power of Congregational churches asserted and vindicated in answer to a treatise of Mr. J. Paget intituled The defence of church-government exercised in classes and synods / by John Davenport.
London: printed for Rich. Chiswell and to be sold by John Usher of Boston, 1672
Part 1 › Chapter 5: Concerning the Churches impregnable stability.
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.
Because Peter, to whom Christ spake these words, describes unbelievers, the adversaries of this building, as belonging to the gates of Hell; 1 Pet. 2.7, 8. 4. Because the proportion, which Christ implies, in these words, requireth that they be so understood. The proportion is between two Cities, that of Heaven, which hath its gates, and keys, in v. 19. and the other of Hell, which hath its gates; whence it endeavours the ruin and overthrow of that, but shall not prevail. Seeing therefore City is opposed to City, and Gates to Gates, and one (viz. the Church) is considered in the state of present building; it is most suitable that the other be also looked at, as it opposeth that, in the present, whilst it is militant upon earth. But from hence, that Christ promiseth that the gates of Hell ⟨p. 62⟩shall not prevail against his Church thus built, some infer, that Christ meaneth only the invisible Catholic Church: For that only, say they, is built on this Rock, and only that shall not fail. Answ. 1. It is true, that the Catholic invisible Church is built upon Christ, by effectual and unfeigned Faith, and that shall not fail: For that is the general Assembly, and Church of the fist-born, which are enrolled in Heaven, Heb. 12.23. And all the gates of Hell cannot prevail against those that are written in Heaven. 2. But it is not true, that these only are built on this Rock. The Apostle Paul tells us, that a particular visible Church, rightly constituted, as that at Corinth, is built upon this Rock, or Rocky-foundation, 1 Cor. 3.10, 11. and being so built, is under the special protection of God in Christ; in respect whereof the Lord promiseth any such Church, as well among the Gentiles, as the Jews, Whosoever shall gather himself against thee, shall fall, Isa. 54.15. and all the weapons that are made against thee shall not prosper, vers. 17. And it is clear, that Christ, in this place, speaks of such a Church as is built upon the confession of Faith, such as Peter made, visibly and publicly; whereupon, not the invisible ⟨p. 63⟩