B20727:168
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.
From the removal of any former subject of this power or liberty, from whence they might derive it. If the Brethren of the congregation were not the first subject of their church-liberty, then they derived it either from their own Elders, or from other churches. But they derived it not from their own Elders: for they had power and liberty to choose their own Elders, as hath been showed above, and therefore they had this liberty before ⟨p. 34⟩they had Elders, and so could not derive it from them.
From the removall of any former subject of this power or liberty, from whence they might derive it. If the Brethren of the congregation were not the first subject of their church-liberty, then they derived it either from their own Elders, or from other churches. But they derived it not from their own Elders: for they had power and liberty to choose their own Elders, as hath been shewed above, and therefore they had this liberty before ⟨p. 34⟩they had Elders, and so could not derive it from them.
Nor did they derive it from other particular churches. For all particular churches are of equal liberty and power within themselves, not one of them subordinate to another. We read not in Scripture, that the Church of Corinth, was subject to that of Ephesus, nor that of Ephesus to Corinth; no, nor that of Cenchrea to Corinth, though it was a church situate in their vicinity.
Nor did they derive it from other particular churches. For all particular churches are of equall liberty and power within themselves, not one of them subordinate to another. Wee reade not in Scripture, that the Church of Corinth, was subject to that of Ephesus, nor that of Ephesus to Corinth; no, nor that of Cenchrea to Corinth, though it was a church situate in their vicinity.