A80640:428
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.
For it appeareth, Novatus was excommunicate by a council at Rome under Cornelius. And Samosatenus was excommunicate and deposed by a council at Antioch. But yet where the Bishops did more attend to the rule of Scripture, and former precedents, Congregational Churches did still enjoy their wonted liberty and power.
For it appeareth, Novatus was excommunicate by a councell at Rome under Cornelius. And Samosatenus was excommunicate and deposed by a councell at Antioch. But yet where the Bishops did more attend to the rule of Scripture, and former precedents, Congregationull Churches did still enjoy their wonted liberty and power.
Their Bishops and other Officers were not chosen to their hands by a consistory of Bishops (or Pastors) amongst themselves in the absence of the people: but (as Cyprian telleth us) amongst them, in Carthage, and almost throughout all the Provinces, As they have received from the Apostles, so they hold it, that for the orderly Celebration of Ordination, all the neighbour Bishops, (or Pastors) of the same Province, where a Minister is to be Ordained, they come together to that people, and the Bishop is chosen in the presence of the people, to whom his life is best known. As (saith he) was done amongst us in the Ordination of our fellow-Minister Sabinus; his Office was put upon him by the suffrage of the whole Brotherhood, and by the judgment of all the Pastors both present, and such as by Letters gave testimony of him: and so hands were imposed upon him. Cyprian Epistolarum l. 1. Epistola 4. And in the same Epistle he saith, The people fearing God, and obedient to the Ordinances of Christ ought to separate from a wicked Ruler, Cum ipsa maxime potestatem habeat vel eligendi dignos Sacerdotes, vel indignos recusundi: Seeing the people chiefly have the power of choosing worthy Ministers, and refusing the unworthy. And as Election and Ordination of Ministers was transacted in the presence and with the suffrage of the people; so was excommunication also: for upon this ground, Cyprian argueth and aggravateth the offence of the Brotherhood in other Churches, who took upon them to question and wave that censure, post Divinum Judicium, (he meaneth, the judgement of Gods Ministers the Elders) post populi suffragium, post Coepiscoporum consensum: after the Divine judgment of their Elders, after the suffrage of the people, after the consent of neighbour Ministers, Cyprian. Epistolarum l. 1. Epistola 3. where he giveth to each rank, their proper act in passing Church-censure: he assigneth to the Elders of the Church