A80640:555
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.
In his third Distinction, which he putteth between a formal ordinary power, and a virtual or extraordinary power, I do not well reach his meaning: For when He cometh to apply this distinction in his second Conclusion, He granteth a virtual Power, not Formal, in the Church of Believers to ordain Pastors, or to do some such Act, as may supply the defect of ordination: As in a Church in an Island, where the Pastors are all dead, or taken away otherwayes; and yet he maketh not this an official, or an authoritative Power properly, but a virtual, and extraordinary Power, not ordinary: like that which David had to eat the show Bread. And in like case of extreme necessity, he alloweth a private man endued with gifts and zeal to teach publicly. But I confess, I do not well understand, how a man in case of necessity hath any virtual power to do this or that Act, but he hath also a formal power to do such an Act in that case of necessity. Such an Act I say, either the same in kind, or the same in Analogy. When David did eat the show-Bread, he had a lawful not only virtual, but formal ⟨p. 24⟩power, as an Israelite in necessity (to whom moral duties were to be preferred before Ceremonial) to eat for the sustentation of life. When a free People choose a King, and Crown him, though they be not endued with a formal, but a virtual Sovereign Power, to give Kingly authority which they have not; yet they have formally a Power to yield up themselves unto subjection to such a Person as they have chosen; and that doth virtually and analogically set up him in the Throne. For He that hath formal Power to make one Relative, He hath an Analogical Power, to set up his Correlative. They that can make themselves Subjects, can make another to be their Sovereign.
In his third Distinction, which he putteth between a formal ordinary power, and a virtual or extraordinary power, I do not wel reach his meaning: For when He cometh to apply this distinction in his second Conclusion, He granteth a virtual Power, not Formall, in the Church of Believers to ordain Pastors, or to do some such Act, as may supply the defect of ordination: As in a Church in an Island, where the Pastors are all dead, or taken away otherwayes; and yet he maketh not this an official, or an authoritative Power properly, but a virtual, and extraordinary Power, not ordinary: like that which David had to eat the shew Bread. And in like case of extreme necessitie, he alloweth a private man endued with gifts and zeal to teach publikely. But I confesse, I do not well understand, how a man in case of necessity hath any virtual power to do this or that Act, but he hath also a formall power to do such an Act in that case of necessitie. Such an Act I say, either the same in kind, or the same in Analogy. VVhen David did eat the shew-Bread, he had a lawfull not only virtuall, but formall