A80640:569
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.
What though such […] society of Believers be not a ministerial Church, without Pastors and Teachers? yet it is not Pastors and Teachers, that giveth them the form of a Church, no not of a Ministerial or Organical Church, much less of an Homogeneal. For Ministers (Pastors, or Teachers) themselves are only materials ⟨p. 27⟩(parts, and members) of a ministerial Church, not the form of it. The form of such a Church, is the mutual profession (or stipulation) or (that which amounteth thereto) the Agreement and consent between ministers and people to administer and submit unto, the holy ordinances of Christ amongst themselves, according to the rule of the Gospel. Say not, a Church of Believers without Ministers, wanteth the power of edifying the body of Christ, which is required in a Visible Church, Eph. 4.11.
What though such 〈…〉 society of Believers be not a ministerial Church, without Pastors and Teachers? yet it is not Pastors and Teachers, that giveth them the form of a Church, no not of a Ministerial or Organical Church, much less of an Homogeneal. For Ministers (Pastors, or Teachers) themselves are onely materialls ⟨p. 27⟩(parts, and members) of a ministerial Church, not the forme of it. The forme of such a Church, is the mutual profession (or stipulation) or (that which amounteth thereto) the Agreement and consent between ministers and people to administer and submit unto, the holy ordinances of Christ amongst themselves, according to the rule of the Gospel. Say not, a Church of Believers without Ministers, wanteth the power of edifying the body of Christ, which is required in a Visible Church, Eph. 4.11.
For every member of the Church hath an edifying power, received from the head Christ Jesus, to the effectual working of the increase of the body, unto the edifying of it self in love.