A80640:525
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.
2. A second thing which Vindex animadverts in the former Paragraph is,
that I call the Keys, Ordinances, which Christ hath instituted to be administered in his Church, the Church of Believers, a Particular Congregation. But mark it (saith he) not by a Church without Officers: but by the Officers instituted in the Church.
that I call the Keyes, Ordinances, which Christ hath instituted to be administred in his Church, the Church of Believers, a Particular Congregation. But mark it (saith he) not by a Church without Officers: but by the Officers instituted in the Church.
Answ. He need not have bid me to mark that, which if himself had marked, He could not but see, That I never acknowledged it to be in the power of the people to administer all Ordinances, but to administer some Ordinances themselves, and to elect and call such to them, as might administer all the rest.
3. His third Animadversion is, That I say, the Keys are neither Sword nor Sceptre: for they convey not Sovereign power; but Stewardly and Ministerial: which clearly (saith he) excludeth the People; for they have no Stewardly or Ministerial Power over themselves.