A80640:630
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. As we need not, so we do not go about, to teach the Lord to speak. Here is no changing of Persons, nor turning of speech, in giving the promise of the Keys. Christ began his speech to Peter, and he continueth his speech to Peter, from v. 17. to 19. All upon occasion of Peters confession. In v. 17. Christ giveth to Peter a promise of blessedness from the cause of his confession. In v. 18 He giveth a promise of reward to his confession; That upon it, as upon a rocky foundation, He will build his Church in impregnable stability. In v. 19. He giveth a promise of reward unto himself upon occasion of his gracious public confession, even a pr•mise of the Keys of the Church. And the promise is more fitly given to Peter in the Name of the Church, then to the Church by Name; because it was not the Church by Name that made that confession, but Peter in the Name of the Church.
Answ. As we need not, so we do not go about, to teach the Lord to speak. Here is no changing of Persons, nor turning of speech, in giving the promise of the Keyes. Christ began his speech to Peter, and he continueth his speech to Peter, from v. 17. to 19. All upon occasion of Peters confession. In v. 17. Christ giveth to Peter a promise of blessednesse from the cause of his confession. In v. 18 He giveth a promise of reward to his confession; That upon it, as upon a rocky foundation, He will build his Church in impregnable stability. In v. 19. He giveth a promise of reward unto himself upon occas••n of his gracious publike confession, even a pr•mise of the Keyes of the Church. And the promise is more fitly given to Peter in the Name of the Church, then to the Church by Name; because it was not the Church by Name that made that confession, but Peter in the Name of the Church.
Ob. 2. If the Promise were given to Peter in the Name of Believers, how will that stand with the judgement of the way, who will not allow every company of Believers, because they are Believers to be an Instituted visible Church; (to whom the Keys are given) but they must be a company of Believers professing Covenant-wise, Faith in Christ and Church-Communion. But then the Keys are not given to Believers because they are Believers, and the Spouse of Christ, but because they are such Professors, and so combined in Church-Covenant.