A80640:440
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
Treatise 1 › Chapter 5 › Section 1: Of the fruits of it in the primitive times.
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.
First, their exact strictness in examining and trying their Cate•humeni, before they received them into Ecclesiam Fidelium, brought forth this savoury and spiritual fruit, the purity of Churches. Pagans themselves could not charge them with any crime, but the name and profession of Christianity, see Pliny Epistolarum lib. 10. Epistolam 97. Tertullian Apologetic Chap. 3. That which he saith of Cajus Sejus, was a general Elogy of their Church-members, Bonus vir, malus tantum quòd Christianus. A like fruit to that of Daniel against whom his enemies could find no occasion of complaint of error or fault, except it were for the profession of the Law of his God, Chap. 6.4, 5.
First, their exact strictnesse in examining and trying their Cate•humeni, before they received them into Ecclesiam Fidelium, brought forth this savory and spirituall fruit, the purity of Churches. Pagans themselves could not charge them with any crime, but the name and profession of Christianitie, see Pliny Epistolarum lib. 10. Epistolam 97. Tertullian Apologetick Chap. 3. That which hee saith of Cajus Sejus, was a generall Elogy of their Church-members, Bonus vir, malus tantum quòd Christianus. A like fruit to that of Daniel against whom his enemies could find no occasion of complaint of error or fault, except it were for the profession of the Law of his God, Chap. 6.4, 5.
And as their strict examination received their members pure: so their strict censure kept them pure. For in the Church, Judicabatur magno cum pondere: — And in their Feasts they were temperate and religiously fruitful in savoury and gracious conference, and so departed b•tter then they met, Ut qui non tam Caenam caenaverint, quam disciplinam. Tertul. Apol. Cap. 39.
And as their strict examination received their members pure: so their strict censure kept them pure. For in the Church, Iudicabatur magno cum pondere: — And in their Feasts they were temperate and religiously fruitfull in savory and gratious conference, and so departed btter then they met, Ʋt qui non tam Caenam caenaverint, quam disciplinam. Tertul. Apol. Cap. 39.