A80640:541
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.
Himself understandeth the Proposition, as if it held forth the Affirmative. But in very Truth, as the word [only] is not in the Proposition: so it was far from my intendment, to exclude an Organical Church (a Church furnished with all her officers) from being an instituted Visible Church of the New Testament, as well as Coetus Fidelium, a company of Christians without Officers. When the Proposition speaketh of Officers as given to the Church, it intendeth them not as mere adjuncts given to a Subject, but as Integral parts given to the whole Body of the Church, for completing the integrity and perfection of it. And so much the very words of the Proposition do imply; for it speaketh of such a Church, to whom Christ hath given the administration of all his public Worship and Ordinances: which is not a power given to a Church of private Believers, destitute of Officers. Howsoever they may be capable (more or less) of some spiritual Administrations: yet doubtless they are not capable of all: and for instance, not of the administration of Sacraments, without Officers.
Himself understandeth the Proposition, as if it held forth the Affirmative. But in very Truth, as the word [onely] is not in the Proposition: so it was far from my intendment, to exclude an Organical Church (a Church furnished with all her officers) from being an instituted Visible Church of the New Testament, as well as Coetus Fidelium, a company of Christians without Officers. When the Proposition speaketh of Officers as given to the Church, it intendeth them not as meer adjuncts given to a Subject, but as Integral parts given to the whole Body of the Church, for completing the integrity and perfection of it. And so much the very words of the Proposition do imply; for it speaketh of such a Church, to whom Christ hath given the administration of all his publike Worship and Ordinances: which is not a power given to a Church of private Believers, destitute of Officers. Howsoever they may be capable (more or less) of some spiritual Administrations: yet doubtles they are not capable of all: and for instance, not of the administration of Sacraments, without Officers.
Neither was it my intendment in that Proposition, to exclude lawful Synods (gathered, and proceeding according to the pattern,