A80640:601
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.
Ob. But if professing Believers, as such, had received any part of the Power of the Keys, they had then received the Power of binding and loosing, which they have not: For binding and loosing are the Acts of the Official-Power of the Keys: Ergo, The Church of Believers being destitute of Officers, and Governors hath not received any part of the Power of the Keys.
Ob. But if professing Believers, as such, had received any part of the Power of the Keyes, they had then received the Power of binding and loosing, which they have not: For binding and loosing are the Acts of the Official-Power of the Keyes: Ergo, The Church of Believers being destitute of Officers, and Governours hath not received any part of the Power of the Keyes.
Answ. The proof of the assumption of this Argument will not hold, unless binding and loosing were the Adequate Acts of the Official-Power of the Keys. But though binding and loosing, or (which is all one) opening and shutting, be indeed the Adequate Acts of the Power of the Keys; yet not so of their official-Power. The Lord Jesus hath the Key of David, He bindeth and none looseth, He looseth and none bindeth: (Rev. 3.7.) and yet this his binding and loosing are not the Acts of the Official, but of the Sovereign power of the Keys. The Brethren of the Church at Jerusalem, who were scattered upon the persecution that arose about Stephen: they preached the Word of Christ to Jews and Grecians about Antioch, and by the good hand of the Lord upon them, a great number believed, and turned to the Lord; Acts 11.19, 20, 21. These Brethren in opening the Door of Faith to their Hearers, though they wanted Office, yet they wanted not the Power of the Keys, to open the Kingdom of Heaven unto them.
Answ. The proof of the assumption of this Argument will not hold, unlesse binding and loosing were the Adequate Acts of the Official-Power of the Keyes. But though binding and loosing, or (which is all one) opening and shutting, be indeed the Adequate Acts of the Power of the Keyes; yet not so of their official-Power. The Lord Jesus hath the Key of David, He bindeth and none looseth, He looseth and none bindeth: (