A80640:339
The way of Congregational churches cleared in two treatises. In the former, from the…
The way of Congregational churches cleared in two treatises. In the former, from the historical aspersions of Mr. Robert Baylie, in his book, called, A dissuasive from the errors of the time. In the latter, from some contradictions of Vindicæ Clavium : and from, some mis-constructions of learned Mr. Rutherford in his book entitled The due right of presbyteries. / By Mr. John Cotton, sometime preacher at Boston in Lincoln-shire, and now teacher of the Church at Boston, in New-England.The way of Congregational churches cleared in two treatises. In the former, from the historical aspersions of Mr. Robert Baylie, in his book, called, A disswasive from the errors of the time. In the latter, from some contradictions of Vindicæ Clavium : and from, some mis-constructions of learned Mr. Rutherford in his book intituled The due right of presbyteries. / By Mr. John Cotton, sometime preacher at Boston in Lincoln-shire, and now teacher of the Church at Boston, in New-England.
London: printed by Matthew Simmons for John Bellamie, 1648
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.
"But the Relation of our Pastors is to their Flock? What then? May there not fall out to be Hypocrites in our Flock? and must we not preach for their conversion? And are not the children of the Members of our Church, many of them such, as when they grow up stand in need of converting grace? and must we not preach for their conversion? Besides, when an Infidel or unbeliever cometh into the Church, do not all the Prophets that preach the Word, (and among them, surely the Pastors and Teachers are not the least) do they not all apply their speech to his conviction and conversion? 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. What though a Pastor be a Feeder to his Flock already begotten unto God? Yet he may (and ought to endeavour to) become a Father also in Christ, to such as are yet unregenerate, whether of his Flock, or out of his Flock. To turn many to righteousness is prophesied of, to be the work of the [Greek or Hebrew] of the New Testament, Dan. 12.3.• But our Church-members are converted already to our hands by the labours of other men, before they can be admitted into our Church.
"But the Relation of our Pastors is to their Flock? What then? May there not fall out to be Hypocrites in our Flock? and must wee not preach for their conversion? And are not the children of the Members of our Church, many of them such, as when they grow up stand in need of converting grace? and must wee not preach for their conversion? Besides, when an Infidell or unbeleever commeth into the Church, doe not all the Prophets that preach the Word, (and among them, surely the Pastors and Teachers are not the least) do they not all apply their speech to his conviction and conversion? 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. What though a Pastour bee a Feeder to his Flock already begotten unto God? Yet he may (and ought to endeavour to) become a Father also in Christ, to such as are yet unregenerate, wheth•r of his Flock, or out of his Flock. To turne many to righteousnesse is prophesied of, to bee the work of the 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 of the New Testament, Dan. 12.3