B20727:135
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.
2. Just consequence from Scripture giveth us another ground for the assembly of many churches, or of their messengers, into a Synod, when any church lieth under scandal, through corruption in doctrine and practice, and will not be healed by more private advertisements of their own members, or of their neighbour Ministers, or Brethren. For there is a brotherly communion, as between the members of the same church, so between the churches. We have a little sister (saith one church to another, Cant. 8.8.) therefore churches have a brotherly communion amongst themselves. Look then as one brother being offended with another, and not able to heal him by the mouth of two or three brethren privately, it behooveth him to carry it to the whole church; so by proportion, if one church see matter of offence in another, and be not able to heal it in a more private way, it will hehove them to procure the Assembly of many churches, that the offence may be orderly heard, and judged and removed.
2. Just consequence from Scripture giveth us another ground for the assembly of many churches, or of their messengers, into a Synod, when any church lyeth under scandall, through corruption in doctrine and practice, and will not be healed by more private advertisements of their own members, or of their neighbour Ministers, or Brethren. For there is a brotherly communion, as between the members of the same church, so between the churches. We have a little sister (saith one church to another, Cant. 8.8.) therefore churches have a brotherly communion amongst themselves. Look then as one brother being offended with another, and not able to heal him by the mouth of two or three brethren privately, it behooveth him to carry it to the whole church; so by proportion, if one church see matter of offence in another, and be not able to heal it in a more private way, it will hehove them to procure the Assembly of many churches, that the offence may be orderly heard, and judged and removed.