A37205:220
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.
Corollary 4.
Then entireness of Church-Government in a particular Congregation, in re propriâ, ought to be thankfully received, rightly improved, and faithfully preserved, without violation of it, both by the Members of particular Churches, and by other Churches, and their Officers.
Then intireness of Church-Government in a particular Congregation, in re propriâ, ought to be thankfully received, rightly improved, and faithfully preserved, without violation of it, both by the Members of particular Churches, and by other Churches, and their Officers.
1. It must be thankfully received, as a blessing promised of God unto his people, whose hearts are engaged to approach unto him, Jer. 30.21. The grant by Charter, of entireness of Government within themselves, unto Cities and Corporations, hath ever been highly esteemed, as an Act of special grace from the Sovereign Power. It was for the enjoyment of this Privilege, with the consequents of it, that the chief Captain, in Acts 22.25, ⟨p. 155⟩26, 28. purchased his freedom in Rome with a great sum of money. This grant to particular Churches is advantageous to the Members of them, sundry ways. 1. For their ease, in having their Causes heard, examined and issued, at home, without chargeable, tiresome journeys to the Classical or Synodal Assembly, to have their matters determined there. 2. For encouragement and liberty of the spirit and speech of him that is to answer before his Brethren and the Elders, who have a Member-like and Pastoral care and respect of him, whereas the presence of sundry strange faces of persons of superior Rank and Quality, would not a little daunt him, which might occasion his falling in his Cause. 3. For their satisfaction concerning the Churches proceeding, where, as all circumstances can be best cleared, so more moderation may rationally be expected from their own Officers and Brethren, than from strangers, comparatively, and from such as are subject to the same censures, and the same either hath been, or may be, their own case, they know not how soon, (which are strong inducements to moderation,