A37205:82
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.
Coral∣lary. 1 Hence it will follow, that it is not sufficient to make one a visible member of this or that Church, that he is joined to it in hearty affection, or in neighbourhood of habitation, or in ordinary hearing the Word preached among them. For, 1. the members of several Churches may be so joined; yea, 2. they that are members of no particular Church, may so join with Church assemblies. All these might be affirmed of those who durst not join as members, to the Church at Jerusalem, Act. 5.13. And of that Heathen Corinthian, 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. 3. All these may be found in an excommunicate.
Coral∣lary. 1 Hence it will follow, that it is not sufficient to make one a visible member of this or that Church, that he is joyned to it in hearty affection, or in neighbourhood of habitation, or in ordinary hearing the Word preached among them. For, 1. the members of several Churches may be so joyned; yea, 2. they that are members of no particular Church, may so joyn with Church assemblies. All these might be affirmed of those who durst not joyn as members, to the Church at Jerusalem, Act. 5.13. And of that Heathen Corinthian, 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. 3. All these may be found in an excommunicate.
Coral∣lary. 2 Then Baptism and profession of the doctrine of Faith, with freedom from public scandal, do not formally constitute a Church, nor make one a visible member of ⟨p. 43⟩the Church. 1. Not Baptism; 1. because the form must be before the formatum, not after it: but the Congregational-Church is before Baptism. For, 1. Baptism cannot ordinarily be orderly administered, but by a Minister called unto Office by the Church. 2. Because Baptism sealeth the Covenant, and incorporation of a Believer and his seed into the visible Church.