A80640:608
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 the power of the Keys lay in competition between a Church of Believers destitute of its own Eldership, and a Church of Believers furnished with it (as the question might seem to import) I should easily grant more ample power to a Church with its Eldership, then to a Church without it; or if the competition of the power of the Keys lay, whether in the Church without the Eldership, or in the Eldership without the Church, (especially when the greater part of the Eldership consisteth of the Elders of other Churches) though we give not much power to a Church without an Eldership: yet we should give less to an Eldership without the Church.
If the power of the Keyes lay in competition between a Church of Believers destitute of its own Eldership, and a Church of Believers furnished with it (as the question might seem to import) I should easily grant more ample power to a Church with its Eldership, then to a Church without it; or if the competition of the power of the Keyes lay, whether in the Church without the Eldership, or in the Eldership without the Church, (especially when the greater part of the Eldership consisteth of the Elders of other Churches) though we give not much power to a Church without an Eldership: yet we should give lesse to an Eldership without the Church.
But the true state of the question is, whether a Congregational Church of Believers furnished with Officers, and walking in the Truth and Peace of the Gospel, have not received the power of Keys (the power of binding and loosing) within themselves? or, whether this power be first given to a Classical, or Provincial, or National Assembly of the Church Officers, or Presbyters: and from them be derived to a Congregational Church of Believers with their Officers?
But the true state of the question is, whether a Congregational Church of Believers furnished with Officers, and walking in the Truth and Peace of the Gospel, have not received the power of Keyes (the power of binding and loosing) within themselves? or, whether this power be first given to a Classical, or Provincial, or National Assembly of the Church Officers, or Presbyters: and from them be derived to a Congregational Church of Believers with their Officers?