A80640:441
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.
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 b•tter then they met, Ʋt qui non tam Caenam caenaverint, quam disciplinam. Tertul. Apol. Cap. 39.
2 From this purity and vigilancy of their discipline, in the admission of their members, and in the administration of their censures, there sprung forth many other gracious fruits, as their holy and constant and confident confessions of the Name of Christ before judgement seats, the patient and glorious Martyrdoms of innumerable Saints, to the conviction and astonishment of a world of persecutors.
2 From this purity and vigilancy of their discipline, in the admission of their members, and in the administration of their censures, there sprung forth many other gratious fruits, as their holy and constant and confident confessions of the Name of Christ before judgement seates, the patient and glorious Martyrdomes of innumerable Saints, to the conviction and astonishment of a world of persecutors.
Whence also sprung at last, the conversion of a great part of the word unto the truth, the advancement of a Christian Emperor, the rooting out of Paganish Idolatry, and propagation of the profession of Christian Religion, not only through the Roman Empire, but in many other Nations exempt from the power of Roman Arms, yet not from the power of the Name of Christ, and of his Church.