A37205:182
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
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.
3. If the first Church in a Continent had this complete power within it self, before other Churches were gathered, and the rising up of other Churches there long after, should deprive them of it, by setting up a Classis, as a Superior Judicatory, over them; then the neighbourhood of Churches should not be a benefit, but a disadvantage to them, and would ⟨p. 127⟩give them cause to complain unto God, Thou hast multiplied the Nation,1 but not increased our joy. But they hold, that every Church is bound to seek this dependency and union with other Churches, as God shall give opportunity and means, and cannot, without sin, neglect the same. And, lest we should think it but a matter Arbitrary, at best; they tell us, it is of the same necessity, for a Church to combine unto Classe•, and Synods, for their Spiritual Government, if they have opportunity, as to join a mans self, as a Member, to a particular Church, if he hath means and opportunity to do it; and conclude, all that neglect to do it, sin against the Communion of Saints, and walk not as becometh the Body of Christ, Rom. 12.5. 1 Cor. 12.15. Ephes. 4.16.
3. If the first Church in a Continent had this compleat power within it self, before other Churches were gathered, and the rising up of other Churches there long after, should deprive them of it, by setting up a Classis, as a Superior Judicatory, over them; then the neighbourhood of Churches should not be a benefit, but a disadvantage to them, and would ⟨p. 127⟩give them cause to complain unto God, Thou hast multiplyed the Nation,1 but not increased our joy. But they hold, that every Church is bound to seek this dependency and union with other Churches, as God shall give opportunity and means, and cannot, without sin, neglect the same. And, lest we should think it but a matter Arbitrary, at best; they tell us, it is of the same necessity, for a Church to combine unto Classe, and Synods, for their Spiritual Government, if they have opportunity, as to joyn a mans self, as a Member, to a particular Church, if he hath means and opportunity to do it; and conclude, all that neglect to do it, sin against the Communion of Saints, and walk not as becometh the Body of Christ,