A80640:489
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.
Nevertheless, when (in the Keys page 2.) I spake of the Power of the Keys given to Peter to bind on earth, I did not mean it in any one single Particular Church on earth alone, but generally and indefinitely, in every Particular Church on earth. For every Apostle had transcendent power in every Particular Church on earth: And every Particular Church on earth (being all of one common Nature militant here on Earth, and different from the Triumphant Church in Heaven) may justly be contradistinguished from the Kingdom of Glory. But yet I never dreamed of a General Visible Church on earth (as Vindex expoundeth me:) unless he mean it, as Visible in Particular Congregations. And if he so mean, it will better express the Truth, and my meaning, to say, That Peter received the Keys to bind and loose (as in the invisible Church in some sort, so) in the Particular Visible Church indefinitely; that is, in every Particular Visible Church on earth. For a Particular Visible Church is of a common and general nature, and comprehendeth in it every singular Particular Visible Church, as that of Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, and the rest.
Nevertheles, when (in the Keyes page 2.) I spake of the Power of the Keyes given to Peter to bind on earth, I did not mean it in any one single Particular Church on earth alone, but generally and indefinitely, in every Particular Church on earth. For every Apostle had transcendent power in every Particular Church on earth: And every Particular Church on earth (being all of one common Nature militant here on Earth, and different from the Tryumphant Church in Heaven) may justly be contradistinguished from the Kingdom of Glory. But yet I never dreamed of a General Visible Church on earth (as Vindex expoundeth me:) unles he mean it, as Visible in Particular Congregations. And if he so mean, it will better express the Truth, and my meaning, to say, That Peter received the Keyes to bind and loose (as in the invisible Church in some sort, so) in the Particular Visible Church indefinitely; that is, in every Particular Visible Church on earth. For a Particular Visible Church is of a common and general nature, and comprehendeth in it every singular Particular Visible Church, as that of Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, and the rest.
Object. 3. That Church is meant (in