A80640:595
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.
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.
And he instanceth in Officio Decurionatus. Covarr. Tom. 2. lib. 3. cap. 19. Num. 4.
Queen Elizabeth whilst she lived, had lawful power to punish her enemies by slaughter in War; Her criminal Subjects by hanging: other offenders by scourging: but it were an hard saying to affirm, that she had Warrant to exercise all these Acts of Power in her own Person.