A80640:594
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.
Answ. The proposition is not always universally safe, if it be understood of the Actual exercise of the Keys, (by them who receive them) in their own person. For Christ himself, who received from the Father the power of all Church Administrations: yet in the Days of his flesh, He in his own person baptized no man: John 4.2. And after his Ascension, though the Sovereign power of the Keys do still remain with him, yet he performeth all the External exercise of Church-power by his Ministers.
Answ. The proposition is not alwayes universally safe, if it be understood of the Actuall exercise of the Keyes, (by them who receive them) in their own person. For Christ himself, who received from the Father the power of all Church Administrations: yet in the Dayes of his flesh, He in his own person baptized no man: John 4.2. And after his Ascension, though the Soveraign power of the Keyes do still remain with him, yet he performeth all the Externall exercise of Church-power by his Ministers.
If it be said, that though Christ did not exercise all Church-power in his own person, yet he had warrant so to do: It may justly be replied, Christ best understood his own warrant, and he that did not exercise this or that Act of the Church-power in his own person, surely he did not think it expedient to exercise it in his own Person. And quicquid non expedit, quatenus non expedit, non licet: That which is not expedient, so far forth as it is not expedient, is not warrantable.
Besides it is a disputable case amongst Civil, and Canon-Lawyers, and by Covarruvias judged for the Affirmative, that in some Cases, the Wife after her Husbands death hath a just Interest in some such Offices as she cannot warrantably exercise in his own Person.