B20727:10
The keys of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word…The keyes of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word…
The keys of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word of God / by Mr. John Cotton ...The keyes of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof according to the word of God / by Mr. Iohn Cotton ...
London: printed by M. Simmons for Henry Overton, 1644
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
TO THE READER.
THE greatest commotions in Kingdoms have for the most part been raised and maintained for and about Power, and Liberties, of the Rulers and the Ruled, together with the due bounds and limits of either: And the like hath fallen out in Churches, and is continued to this day in the sharpest contentions (though now the seat of the war is changed) who should be the first adequate, and complete subject of that Church-power, which Christ hath left on earth; how bounded, and to whom committed. This controversy is in a special manner the lot of these present times: And now that most parties (that can pretend any thing towards it) have in several ages had their turns & vicissitudes of so long a possession of it, and their pleas for their several pretences, have been so much and so long heard, it may well be hoped it is near determining; & that Christ will shortly settle this power upon the right heirs to whom he primitively did bequeath it.
THE greatest commotions in Kingdomes have for the most part beene raised and maintained for and about Power, and Liberties, of the Rulers and the Ruled, together with the due bounds and limits of either: And the like hath fallen out in Churches, and is continued to this day in the sharpest contentions (though now the seate of the warre is changed) who should bee the first adequate, and compleate subject of that Church-power, which Christ hath left on earth; how bounded, and to whom committed. This controversie is in a speciall manner the lot of these present times: And now that most parties (that can pretend any thing towards it) have in severall ages had their turns & vicissitudes of so long a pessession of it, and their pleas for their severall pretences, have beene so much and so long heard, it may wel be hoped it is neere determining; & that Christ wil shortly settle this power upon the right heires to whom he primitively did bequeath it.