A80640:476
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 (saith the Avenger) of all the rest this is the most improbable• sense of our Saviours words, If by the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, he meaneth that Church of which he spake before in vers. 18. But that was either the Catholic Visible Church: or rather the Invisible Mystical Church; for that only is built upon the Rock, and against that the gates of Hell shall never prevail: Whereas Particular Churches may fail.
But (saith the Avenger) of all the rest this is the most improbable• sense of our Saviours words, If by the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, he meaneth that Church of which he spake before in vers. 18. But that was either the Catholick Visible Church: or rather the Invisible Mystical Church; for that only is built upon the Rock, and against that the gates of Hell shall never prevail: Whereas Particular Churches may fail.
Answ. 1. It is not a more improbable sense of our Saviours words, to understand the Kingdom of Heaven (Matth. 16.19.) of a Particular Visible Church, rather then of the Catholic Visible Church. For I do not read that the Scripture doth any where acknowledge a Catholic Visible Church at all. The Catholic Church is not Visible as a Church: and the Church that is Visible, is not Catholic. Doctor Ames his Judgement seems to me more Orthodoxal, Ecclesia non est tota simul Visibilis. Medull. l. 1. c. 32. num. 1. For though the whole Church (or which is all one, the Catholic Church) may be Visible in her singular Members; yet so they are not a Church. Or though it ⟨p. 6⟩may be Visible in the several Particular Congregations, yet none of them is Catholic. Or though all of them together may be called a Catholic Church, or General Assembly, if they were met together; Yet I suppose, Vindex would be loth to say, That Christ giveth the Power of the Keys (all Ecclesiastical Power) into their hands. Such general Assemblies are rare and extraordinary; and extraordinary Assemblies are not fit Judicatories to hear and censure ordinary offences, or to administer the ordinary Acts of Church-Power.