A80640:622
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.
The minor Proposition is as clear: For the Keys are nothing else, but the Instruments of edifying the Church. Though their immediate ⟨p. 38⟩and proper work be to open and shut (and Metaphorically, to bind and loose:) yet both these are nothing else but Acts of edifying the Church. And that the Church is edified or builded of Believers, Publicly professing their Faith: the Lord himself doth acknowledge in the words of the Text: when he saith, Upon this Rock, (that is, upon this Public Profession of Faith in me) I will build my Church. Peter by this public profession of his Faith, did edify himself, and his fellow-Disciples: and thereby obtained both a reward of his Profession, to become the foundation of the Church: and a reward to himself, of receiving the Keys; that is, a power both by gift, and office to edify the Church in a more settled manner, and abundant measure, not only as a Believer, but as a chief Elder, and Apostle.
The minor Proposition is as clear: For the Keyes are nothing else, but the Instruments of edifying the Church. Though their immediate ⟨p. 38⟩and proper work be to open and shut (and Metaphorically, to bind and loose:) yet both these are nothing else but Acts of edifying the Church. And that the Church is edified or builded of Believers, Publikely professing their Faith: the Lord himself doth acknowledge in the words of the Text: when he saith, Ʋpon this Rock, (that is, upon this Publike Profession of Faith in me) I will build my Church. Peter by this publike profession of his Faith, did edifie himself, and his fellow-Disciples: and thereby obtained both a reward of his Profession, to become the foundation of the Church: and a reward to himself, of receiving the Keyes; that is, a power both by gift, and office to edifie the Church in a more setled manner, and abundant measure, not onely as a Believer, but as a chief Elder, and Apostle.
The second thing in the Text, that may infer some part of the power of the Keys to be given to a Church of Believers even without officers, may thus be taken up.