A37205:216
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.
1. Held forth by them, they looking at themselves, though as Elders, yet not as Apostles, nor as infallibly assisted, or carried by the Spirit, above all possibility of erring, in their Determinations and Counsels, and therefore do not in a Masterly way impose their Determinations and Counsels upon others, but propound them in the fear of God, to be examined ⟨p. 150⟩by the Scripture, and received only so far, as they shall be found to agree therewith. And, if that Church hold forth Reasons of their contrary apprehensions, let them be duly weighed, and answered convictingly; or let that Church be left at liberty, to walk according to their own light, in re propriâ, without offence, or disturbance.
1. Held forth by them, they looking at themselves, though as Elders, yet not as Apostles, nor as infallibly assisted, or carried by the Spirit, above all possibility of erring, in their Determinations and Counsels, and therefore do not in a Masterly way impose their Determinations and Counsels upon others, but propound them in the fear of God, to be examined ⟨p. 150⟩by the Scripture, and received only so far, as they shall be found to agree therewith. And, if that Church hold forth Reasons of their contrary apprehensions, let them be duly weighed, and answered convictingly; or let that Church be left at liberty, to walk according to their own light, in re propriâ, without offense, or disturbance.
2. Godly Wisdom is to be exercised in such proceedings, in making difference between Cause and Cause; which will not suffer Churches to connive at grosser scandals, nor to withdraw the right hand of fellowship from any Church upon small differences in Judgement or Practice, much less, for Censuring, and holding under Censure impenitent persons, when the scandalous obstinacy of delinquents is res propriâ to that Church, though some other Churches (being mis-led by their Guides, who possibly may side, more than they ought, with the delinquent, out of some secret grutch against the Elders of that Church) declare it to be their Judgment, that the party should not have been laid under that Censure, or should now be released from it. To withdraw the right-hand of fellowship from a Church for such a cause,