A80640:478
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.
Answ. 2. He therefore distrusting (as it seemeth) that to be the meaning of our Saviours words (to understand the Kingdom of Heaven of the Catholic Visible Church) He expoundeth it rather to be meant of the Invisible Mystical Church. And indeed, true it is, that Peter and other Preachers of the Gospel have received such a Power of the Keys, as by the Ministry of the Word, to beget Faith in their Hearers, and so to open to them a door into the Invisible Church: as also to convince unbelievers of their damnable Estate, and so Ministerially to declare them shut out from the fellowship of the Invisible Church. But there is also a Power of the Keys, to open a door unto profest Believers into the Visible Church: and again to shut them out of the Visible Church, when they grow scandalous. And therefore the Visible Church cannot be excluded from one part of the meaning of the Kingdom of Heaven, whereof Peter received the Keys.
Answ. 2. He therefore distrusting (as it seemeth) that to be the meaning of our Saviours words (to understand the Kingdom of Heaven of the Catholick Visible Church) He expoundeth it rather to be meant of the Invisible Mystical Church. And indeed, true it is, that Peter and other Preachers of the Gospel have received such a Power of the Keys, as by the Ministery of the Word, to beget Faith in their Hearers, and so to open to them a dore into the Invisible Church: as also to convince unbelievers of their damnable Estate, and so Ministerially to declare them shut out from the fellowship of the Invisible Church. But there is also a Power of the Keyes, to open a dore unto profest Believers into the Visible Church: and again to shut them out of the Visible Church, when they grow scandalous. And therefore the Visible Church cannot be excluded from one part of the meaning of the Kingdom of Heaven, whereof Peter received the Keyes.
Besides, certain it is, that when by the power of the Keys, a Believer is received into the Invisible Church, he can never be shut again out of that Church. But the Keys here given to Peter, have a Power to shut out of the Kingdom of heaven, even the same Persons, unto whom they have opened the door before. And therefore the Kingdom of Heaven (whereof Peter received the Keys) is not meant only of the Invisible Church, but of the Visible Church also,